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First-episode mania in late life
M Tohen1, K I Shulman, A Satlin
1Bipolar Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02178.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Elderly men with first-episode mania face higher mortality risks. First-episode mania in seniors is also linked to more neurological disorders, suggesting a complex condition.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Mania in the elderly is not fully understood.
- Distinguishing between first-episode and recurrent mania is crucial for prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mortality risk in elderly patients with first-episode mania.
- To compare the prevalence of comorbid neurological disorders between first-episode and recurrent mania in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study followed 14 elderly patients with first-episode mania for 3-10 years.
- A comparison group of 36 elderly patients with multiple mania episodes was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Men with first-episode mania exhibited a higher risk of mortality.
- Patients with first-episode mania were twice as likely (71%) to have comorbid neurological disorders compared to those with multiple episodes (28%).
Conclusions:
- First-episode mania in the elderly is associated with increased mortality, particularly in men.
- The higher rate of neurological comorbidities in first-episode mania suggests significant heterogeneity in geriatric mania.