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

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 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. METHOD: 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. RESULTS: 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 a...

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