Axis I comorbidity in bipolar disorder with psychotic features

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Abstract
Background: Axis I comorbidities are prevalent among patients with severe bipolar disorder but the clinical and psychopathological implications are not clear.Aims: To investigate characteristics of four groups of patients categorised as follows: substance abuse only (group I), substance abuse associated with other Axis I disorders (group 2), non-substance-abuse Axis I comorbidity (group 3), no psychiatric comorbidity (group 4)Method: Consecutive patients with bipolar disorder with psychotic features (n=125) were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–III–R – patient version, and several psychopathological scales.Results: By comparison with group 4, group I had a higher risk of having mood-incongruent delusions, group 2 had an earlier age at onset of mood disorder, a more frequent onset with a mixed state and a higher risk of suicide, and group 3 had more severe anxiety and a better awareness of illness.Conclusions: Substance abuse, non-substance-abuse Axis I comorbidity and their reciprocal association are associated with different characteristics of bipolar disorder.

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