Further distinctions between manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder) and primary depressive disorder (unipolar depression)

G Winokur; W Coryell; J Endicott; H Akiskal

doi:10.1176/ajp.150.8.1176

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Further distinctions between manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder) and primary depressive disorder (unipolar depression)

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Further distinctions between manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder) and primary depressive disorder (unipolar depression)

G Winokur, W Coryell, J Endicott and H Akiskal

The American journal of psychiatry, Vol.150(8), pp.1176-1181

08/1993

DOI: 10.1176/ajp.150.8.1176

PMID: 8328560

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Abstract

Patients with bipolar disorder differ from patients with unipolar depression by having family histories of mania with an earlier onset and by having more episodes over a lifetime. This study was designed to determine whether additional aspects of course of illness, the presence of medical diseases, childhood traits, and other familial illnesses separate the two groups. In a large collaborative study, consecutively admitted bipolar and unipolar patients were systematically given clinical interviews. Data were collected on medical diseases and childhood behavioral traits. Systematic family history and family study data were also obtained. The patients were studied every 6 months for 5 years. The group of bipolar patients had an earlier onset, a more acute onset, more total episodes, and more familial mania and were more likely to be male. These differences were relatively independent of each other. The bipolar patients were also more likely to have shown traits of hyperactivity as children. The unipolar patients had a significantly greater number of lifetime medical/surgical interventions than the bipolar patients, even when age was controlled. Alcoholism was more frequently found in the families of the bipolar patients, even when alcoholism in the probands was controlled; however, this difference was not significant. This study supports the usefulness of distinguishing between bipolar and unipolar patients in treatment and research studies.

Diagnosis, Differential

Age Factors

Comorbidity

Humans

Depressive Disorder - diagnosis

Male

Alcoholism - diagnosis

Bipolar Disorder - diagnosis

Bipolar Disorder - genetics

Bipolar Disorder - psychology

Sex Factors

Adult

Alcoholism - genetics

Family

Female

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis

Depressive Disorder - epidemiology

Depressive Disorder - psychology

Bipolar Disorder - epidemiology

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Further distinctions between manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder) and primary depressive disorder (unipolar depression)
Creators: G Winokur - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242
W Coryell
J Endicott
H Akiskal
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The American journal of psychiatry, Vol.150(8), pp.1176-1181
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1176/ajp.150.8.1176
PMID: 8328560
ISSN: 0002-953X
eISSN: 1535-7228
Language: English
Date published: 08/1993
Academic Unit: Psychiatry
Record Identifier: 9984004183102771

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