Age at onset in geriatric bipolar disorder - Effects on clinical presentation and treatment outcomes in an inpatient sample

The authors report on 62 inpatients over age 60 who met DSM-III-R criteria for bipolar disorder, divided into early- and late-onset groups by their me dian age at lifetime onset, 49 years, in order to examine differences in de mographic and clinical characteristics, treatment parameters, and outcome i n the two groups during a short-term hospitalization. The late-onset group was more likely to have psychotic features and to demonstrate cerebrovascul ar risk/burden. However, both groups had similar and highly significant imp rovements in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Global Assessment Scale, a nd the Mini-Mental State Exam, and 87% were able to be discharged to settin gs no more restrictive than those at admission.