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Substance use as a risk factor for bipolar disorder: A systematic review
Mikayla Lalli1, Khadija Brouillette1, Flavio Kapczinski2
1School of Interdisciplinary Science, Life Sciences Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|October 28, 2021
Summary
Substance use is a significant risk factor for bipolar disorder (BD). Frequent cannabis use, in particular, increases the likelihood of developing BD or experiencing manic symptoms, highlighting the need for careful assessment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Substance use is common in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD).
- Early detection of substance use as a predictor aids in accurate diagnosis and treatment management of BD.
- Understanding the relationship between substance use and BD is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature and determine if substance use predicts the development of bipolar disorder (BD).
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase databases.
- Included studies published up to February 9, 2021.
- A total of 22 studies were included in this systematic review.
Main Results:
- Overall substance use was identified as a risk factor for BD in 66.7% of studies.
- Specific substances linked to increased BD risk include cannabis (55.6%), nonmedical prescription medications (50%), and nicotine (50%).
- Higher frequency of cannabis use correlated with a greater risk of developing BD or experiencing hypomanic/manic symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports substance use as a significant risk factor for bipolar disorder (BD).
- Clinicians should pay close attention to the frequency of cannabis use when assessing psychoactive substance use as a risk factor for BD.
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