Does the manic/mixed episode distinction in bipolar disorder patients run true over time?

Citation
Sw. Woods et al., Does the manic/mixed episode distinction in bipolar disorder patients run true over time?, AM J PSYCHI, 158(8), 2001, pp. 1324-1326
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry,"Clinical Psycology & Psychiatry","Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
ISSN journal
0002953X → ACNP
Volume
158
Issue
8
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1324 - 1326
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-953X(200108)158:8<1324:DTMEDI>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Objective: The authors sought to determine whether the manic/mixed episode distinction in patients with bipolar disorder runs true over time. Method: Over an 11-year period, the observed distribution of manic and mixe d episodes (N=1,224) for patients with three or more entries in the managem ent information system of a community mental health center (N=241) was comp ared to the expected distribution determined by averaging 1,000 randomly ge nerated simulations. Results: Episodes were consistent (all manic or all mixed) in significantly more patients than would be expected by chance. Conclusions: These data suggest a pattern of diagnostic stability over time for manic and mixed episodes in patients with bipolar disorder. Careful pr ospective studies of this issue are needed.