The duration of undiagnosed bipolar disorder: Impact of substance use disorders co-morbidity

Abstract

AimsStudy the impact of substance use disorders (SUD) co-morbidity on the duration of undiagnosed bipolar disorder (DUBP).MethodsCase-control study during a period of six months from July 2015 to December 2015. One hundred euthymic patients with BD (type I, II or unspecified) were recruited in the department of psychiatry C Razi Hospital, during their follow-up. Two groups were individualized by the presence or not of a SUD co-morbidity. In our study DUBP was defined as the period between the first symptoms and the beginning of treatment by a mood stabilizer.ResultsThe beginning of addictive behaviour preceded the installation of bipolar disease in 32% of cases. Installation of bipolar disorder preceded the installation of addictive behaviour in 12% of cases. The beginning of addictive behaviour was concomitant with the installation of bipolar disease in 6% of cases. The average DUBP in the full sample was 4.80 years with a standard deviation of 8.04 and extremes ranging from 0.08 to 37.5.The average DUBP in patients with SUD co-morbidity was 5.91 years with a standard deviation of 8.16 and extremes ranging from 0.08 to 35, and 3.68 years with a standard deviation of 7.84 and extremes ranging from 0.08 to 37.5 in patients without SUD co-morbidity.ConclusionsAccording to studies over two thirds of patients with bipolar disorder received misdiagnoses before diagnosis of BD, and among the factors involved can report the presence of SUD co-morbidity. Hence, we should detect BD among patients with SUD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.