PATTERNS OF TREATMENT RESISTANCE IN BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE-DISORDER

The mean index episode length in 19 consecutive admissions with treatm ent-resistant bipolar affective disorder was 21.7 months. Four pattern s of resistance were identified: rapid cycling (37%), other forms of c ycling (32%), chronic depression (26%) and mixed states (6%). Female g ender was significantly associated with rapid cycling. Other risk fact ors for treatment-resistant bipolar disorder, including a high prevale nce of family history of affective disorder (72%) and electroencephalo graphic abnormalities (54% of recordings), were not confined to the ra pid cycling group.