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Duration of untreated bipolar disorder: a multicenter study.
Ling Zhang1,2, Xin Yu3, Yi-Ru Fang4
1The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, China &Center of Depression, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders &Mood Disorders Center, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Scientific Reports
|March 23, 2017
Summary
In Chinese patients with bipolar disorder (BD), longer duration of untreated illness (DUB) is linked to BD type II and misdiagnosis. The average DUB in China is shorter than in Western countries.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Duration of untreated illness (DUB) significantly impacts bipolar disorder (BD) outcomes.
- Limited data exists on DUB characteristics in Chinese populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate demographic and clinical differences between short (≤2 years) and long (>2 years) DUB in Chinese patients with BD.
- To identify factors associated with long DUB in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 555 Chinese patients diagnosed with BD.
- Data collected via a standardized protocol assessing demographic and clinical characteristics.
- Multivariate analyses used to determine predictors of long DUB.
Main Results:
- The mean DUB was 3.2 ± 6.0 years, with 31.0% experiencing long DUB.
- Longer duration of illness, BD type II diagnosis, and prior misdiagnosis (MDD or schizophrenia) were independently associated with long DUB.
- Mean DUB in Chinese patients was shorter compared to Western cohorts.
Conclusions:
- BD type II and misdiagnosis are key factors contributing to prolonged DUB in China.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of DUB on BD prognosis in this demographic.
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