Citation

Fossey MD, Otto MW, Yates WR, Wisniewski SR, Gyulai L, Allen MH, Miklowitz DJ, Coon KA, Ostacher MJ, Neel JL, Thase ME, Sachs GS, Weiss RD, Step-BD Investigators. Am. J. Addict. 2006; 15(2): 138-143.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1080/10550490500528423

PMID

16595351

Abstract

The validity of a primary/secondary substance use disorder (SUD) distinction was evaluated in the first 1000 patients enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder. Patients with primary SUD (n = 116) were compared with those with secondary SUD (n = 275) on clinical course variables. Patients with secondary SUD had fewer days of euthymia, more episodes of mania and depression, and a greater history of suicide attempts. These findings were fully explained by variations in age of onset of bipolar disorder. The order of onset of SUDs was not linked to bipolar outcomes when age of onset of bipolar disorder was statistically controlled. The primary/secondary distinction for SUD is not valid when variations in the age of onset of the non-SUD are linked to course characteristics.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Affect; Age Factors; Age of Onset; Bipolar Disorder; Combined Modality Therapy; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Personality Assessment; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Risk Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide, Attempted; Treatment Outcome