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Rapid cycling affective disorder: a descriptive study from North India
A Avasthi1, A Sharma, S Malhotra
1Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|July 14, 1999
Summary
Rapid cycling affective disorder (RCAD) is a severe form of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). RCAD cases show longer illness duration, more episodes, hospitalizations, and family history compared to non-rapid cycling BPAD.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Affective disorders encompass a range of mood disturbances.
- Rapid cycling affective disorder (RCAD) is a subtype characterized by frequent mood shifts.
- Understanding RCAD's clinical features is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of RCAD within a larger cohort of affective disorder (AD) cases.
- To compare the clinical characteristics of RCAD with non-rapid cycling bipolar affective disorder (BPAD).
- To identify factors associated with RCAD and establish its severity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 770 consecutive ICD-10 affective disorder cases over 5 years.
- Identification and isolation of 33 cases diagnosed with RCAD (ICD-10-DCR).
- Comparative analysis between RCAD and non-rapid cycling BPAD groups.
Main Results:
- RCAD constituted 4.29% of the total AD cases.
- All identified RCAD cases were classified under bipolar affective disorder.
- RCAD patients exhibited a significantly longer mean duration of illness.
- Greater numbers of total episodes and hospitalizations were observed in RCAD.
- Stronger family loading of bipolar affective disorder was noted in RCAD cases.
Conclusions:
- RCAD represents a distinct and severe subtype of bipolar affective disorder.
- The findings highlight RCAD as a clinically significant condition requiring specialized attention.
- RCAD is associated with a more protracted illness course and genetic predisposition.