Citation

Vieta E, Colom F, Gastó C, Nieto E, Benabarre A, Otero A. Actas Luso Esp. Neurol. Psiquiatr. Cienc. Afines 1997; 25(3): 147-151.

Vernacular Title

Trastorno bipolar II: curso y conducta suicida.

Affiliation

Subdivisión de Psiquiatría y Psicología Clínica Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Grupo Ars XXI de Comunicacion, SA)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9381957

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar II disorder seems to be more than a mild form of classic manic-depressive illness. Differences with bipolar I concern genetic, biological, clinical and pharmacological aspects. Nevertheless, studies on suicidal behavior in both groups have resulted in inconsistent results PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty-two patients fulfilling Research Diagnostic Criteria for the diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and 38 bipolar I were evaluated with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia by two independent interviewers, and compared. RESULTS: Bipolar II patients had significantly more previous episodes (p = 0.001), including both depressive (p = 0.003) and hypomanic switches (p = 0.006), but had been hospitalized (p = 0.001) and presented psychotic symptoms (p < 0.001) less frequently. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between both groups regarding suicidal behavior variables. These results suggest that bipolar II disorder is less severe than bipolar I regarding symptoms intensity, but more severe with respect to episodes frequency, and that suicide attempts rates are not useful to discriminate between both groups.

Language: es