Predictors of recurrence in bipolar disorders in Spain (PREBIS study data)

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Clinical Psychology
• Epidemiology of Mental Disorders

Background:

• Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic mental illness characterized by mood recurrences.
• Identifying predictors of relapse is crucial for effective long-term management of BD.
• Previous research has explored various factors, but naturalistic, long-term follow-up data are essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate demographic, psychosocial, and clinical predictors of mood recurrences in euthymic bipolar disorder outpatients.
• To analyze factors influencing both the likelihood and the time to affective recurrence over a 12-month period.
• To provide insights for personalized treatment strategies in a real-world clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, naturalistic study followed 595 consecutive bipolar disorder patients in clinical remission.
• Quarterly assessments included clinical evaluations and psychometric assessments of mood and functioning.
• Logistic and Cox regression analyses were employed to identify predictors of recurrence and time to recurrence.

Main Results:

• Out of 593 patients, 141 (23.78%) experienced at least one recurrence within 12 months.
• Living setting (smaller communities vs. large cities) and a higher number of previous episodes significantly predicted recurrence.
• Shorter time to relapse was associated with job status and living setting.

Conclusions:

• Living in smaller communities (<100,000 inhabitants) and a history of more affective episodes increase relapse risk in bipolar disorder.
• Job status and living environment are significant factors influencing the speed of relapse.
• These findings highlight the importance of environmental and historical factors in managing bipolar disorder recurrence.