A comparison of descriptive characteristics of male outpatients and inpatients with affective disorders

Recent studies of patients with affective disorders have found that there a re biological differences between inpatients and outpatients. Concerned by these findings, we compared individuals admitted to our inpatient and outpa tient affective disorders clinical research center who met criteria for maj or depression. We hypothesized that inpatients would be more severely ill, more suicidal, more functionally impaired, and have more co-morbid disorder s and higher ratings of depression and mood state dysfunction. The demograp hic profiles, lifetime co-morbid Axis I diagnoses, consumption histories, s ymptom profiles, global assessment of functioning, and severity of current stressors (Axis IV) were compared and contrasted for the two groups. Inpati ents had more severe current psychosocial stressors, lower current levels o f functioning, increased lifetime co-morbid Axis I diagnoses, and increased rates of psychiatric hospitalizations, however, they did not have higher d epression symptom ratings. In conclusion, inpatients and outpatients differ ed significantly in the severity of their stressors, coping abilities and h istory of previous hospitalizations, but not in most demographic variables or their current symptoms of depression. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 13:245-25 2 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.