%0 Journal Article
%T Number of prior episodes and the presence of depressive symptoms are associated with longer length of stay for patients with acute manic episodes
%A Manuel Martin-Carrasco
%A Ana Gonzalez-Pinto
%A Jaime L Galan
%A Javier Ballesteros
%A Jorge Maurino
%A Eduard Vieta
%J Annals of General Psychiatry
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1744-859x-11-7
%X This was a cross-sectional study recruiting adult patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria) who had been hospitalized due to an acute manic episode with a Young Mania Rating Scale total score greater than 20. Bivariate correlational and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of LOS.A total of 235 patients from 44 centers were included in the study. The only factors that were significantly associated to LOS in the regression model were the number of previous episodes and the Montgomery-£¿sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at admission (P < 0.05).Patients with a high number of previous episodes and those with depressive symptoms during mania are more likely to stay longer in hospital. Patients with severe depressive symptoms may have a more severe or treatment-resistant course of the acute bipolar manic episode.According to epidemiological studies, the estimated lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder in Europe is approximately 1% [1,2]. However, the prevalence and incidence rates are probably underestimated. A Spanish study found that only 30% of patients received a bipolar disorder diagnosis on first evaluation [3] and misdiagnosis is especially frequent in young people [4]. Bipolar disorder is often associated with other coexisting morbidities, the most common being anxiety and substance use disorders [5-7], which are related to an increased risk of suicidal ideation [8] and of mood switches from depression to mania [9,10].In the 15 to 44 age group, bipolar disorder is among the leading causes of disability in the developed world [11], which partially explains the important economic burden of the disease. Additionally, bipolar disorder patients use healthcare services more than patients with other mental disorders [12]. Hospital admission is generally required in acute manic episodes, which are dif
%K bipolar disorder
%K depressive symptoms
%K length of stay
%K mania
%U http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/11/1/7