Family History Of Mood Disorders Research Articles

A study of incidence of bipolar disorder in patients treated for major depression

Aim: Recurrent episodes of depression are common in both unipolar and bipolar disorder, but diagnostic and clinical problem with bipolar mood disorder is that hypomanic episodes usually go unnoticed by caretakers and clinicians. Several studies have indicated that if carefully looked for, 25% of patients with major depressive disorder have history of bipolarity. So we aim to assess the proportion of patients with features of bipolar disorder amongst those primarily diagnosed and treated as major depressive disorder and compare the symptom profile of unipolar depression and bipolar depression. Methodology: One hundred consecutive patients, in tertiary care hospital in Ahmadabad, who were being treated as major depressive disorder according to DSM-4 TR and assessed using scales, HAM-D, GAF, Hypomania Check List-32(HCL) and Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Patients who scored higher in HCL and MDQ were assessed in details by MINI. Results: 100 patients of unipolar depression were taken in study, out of which 16 patients were found to have bipolar mood disorder after assessment. Our incidence of bipolar mood disorder in patients treated as unipolar depression is 16%. Patients of bipolar depression had significantly higher number of prior mood episodes, family history of mood disorder and episodes with psychotic features. Conclusion -Bipolarity is confidently diagnosable in a substantial proportion of patients being treated as unipolar major depression. All the patients of unipolar depression must be screened for bipolarity to give them specific treatment with better results and better quality of life. Keywords: Major depressive disorder, Unipolar depression, Bipolar depression.

A cross-sectional study comparing some clinical features of patients with rapid cycling and non-rapid cycling bipolar disorder

Objective: Literature indicates that rapid cycling (RC) feature in bipolar disorder (BD) has been associated with worse disorder outcome and more severe disability. We aimed to investigate factors that affect or involved in vulnerability to increase rapid cycling in the previous 12 months. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Patients (n=380) were recruited from an outpatients clinic of a general hospital. Diagnostic interviews were performed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-I) and SCID-II. Sociodemographic Form, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) were applied. RC was defined as presence four or more mood episodes in the previous 12 months. Patients were arranged as whether having rapid cycling bipolar disorder (RCBD) or not. RCBD was compared to the group of non-RCBD patients regarding the sociode-mographic and clinical data. Results: Study group showed a female preponderance (65.0%). Sixty patients (15.8%) had RC in the previous 12 months. There were statistically significant differences between two groups regarding in number of suicide attempts, family history of mood disorders, psychotic depression, number of antidepressants utilized, manic, depressive, mixed and total number of episodes. Discussion: The presence of RC in the previous 12 months was found correlated with specific clinical features closely related to worse outcome in the course of BD. Further studies are needed to clarify disease-related factors in patient groups with a standard definition of homo-geneous RCBD.

Identification of potential genetic risk factors for bipolar disorder by whole-exome sequencing

This study aims at assessing the burden of rare (minor allele frequency < 1%) predicted damaging variants in the whole exome of 92 bipolar I disorder (BD) patients and 1051 controls of French ancestry. Patients exhibiting an extreme phenotype (earlier onset and family history of mood disorder) were preferentially included to increase the power to detect an association. A collapsing strategy was used to test the overall burden of rare variants in cases versus controls at the gene level. Only protein-truncating and predicted damaging missense variants were included in the analysis. Thirteen genes exhibited p values exceeding 10−3 and could be considered as potential risk factors for BD. Furthermore, the validity of the association was supported when the Exome Aggregation Consortium database non-Finnish European population was used as controls for eight of them. Their gene products are involved in various cerebral processes, some of which were previously implicated in BD and belong to pathways implicated in the therapeutic effect of lithium, the main mood stabilizer. However, exome-wide threshold for association study was not reached, emphasizing that larger samples are needed.

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in adult bipolar disorder patients

BackgroundIt has long been recognized that bipolar disorder (BD) and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) co-occur in an uncertain proportion of patients, recognized commonly in juvenile years. There is growing suspicion that such co-occurrence is associated with several clinically unfavorable characteristics. Accordingly, we compared 703 type I or II BD subjects with vs. without a lifetime diagnosis of ADHD. MethodsWe compared 173 BD patients with vs. 530 without co-occurring ADHD for selected demographic and clinical factors, using standard initial bivariate comparisons followed by multivariable logistic regression modeling. ResultsADHD was found in 25% of BD subjects, more among men and with type I BD. Those with ADHD had higher scores at the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), were more likely to have had less successful school performance, unemployment, lower socioeconomic status, less marriage and more divorce, as well as more substance abuse, suicide attempts, and [hypo]mania, but were less likely to have an anxiety disorder or a family history of mood disorder. Multivariable logistic regression modeling found six factors differing between BD subjects with versus without ADHD: less education after high school, higher ASRS score for inattention, ever separated or divorced, irritable temperament, male sex, and lower scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at intake. CommentsCo-occurrence of ADHD with BD was identified at a moderate rate, and was associated with several unfavorable outcomes as well as a tendency toward [hypo]mania.

The association between social skills deficits and family history of mood disorder in bipolar I disorder.

Objective:To compare social skills and related executive functions among bipolar disorder (BD) patients with a family history of mood disorders (FHMD), BD patients with no FHMD and healthy control (HCs).Methods:We evaluated 20 euthymic patients with FHMD, 17 euthymic patients without FHMD, and 31 HCs using the Social Skills Inventory (SSI) and a neuropsychological battery evaluating executive function, inhibitory control, verbal fluency and estimated intelligence.Results:Both BD groups had lower SSI scores than controls. Scores for one subfactor of the social skills questionnaire, conversational skills and social performance, were significantly lower among patients with FHMD than among patients without FHMD (p = 0.019). Both groups of BD patients exhibited significant deficits in initiation/inhibition, but only BD patients with FHMD had deficits in verbal fluency, both compared to HC. There were no associations between social skills questionnaire scores and measures of cognitive function.Conclusion:Euthymic BD patients have lower social skills and executive function performance than HC. The presence of FHMD among BD patients is specifically associated with deficits in conversational and social performance skills, in addition to deficits in verbal fluency. Both characteristics might be associated with a common genetically determined pathophysiological substrate.

Differential Impact of Obesity on CD69 Expression in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder and Healthy Controls

Preliminary evidence suggests that premature immunosenescence is involved in bipolar disorder (BD) pathophysiology. The cellular marker CD69 is expressed in T lymphocyte surface during their activation and its expression is negatively correlated with age. The objective of this study was to assess the moderating effects of obesity on the reduction of expression of CD69, a marker of immunosenescence. Forty euthymic patients with BD type I, aged 18–65 years, were included in this study. The healthy comparison group consisted of 39 volunteers who had no current or lifetime history of mental disorders, no use of psychotropic medications, and no known family history of mood disorders or psychosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from BD patients and healthy controls were collected and isolated. The cells were allowed to grow in culture and stimulated for 3 days. CD69 was marked and read in flow cytometry. We found that the lower expression of CD69 in BD patients was moderated by body mass index (BMI) in both CD4+ (RR = 0.977, 95% CI 0.960–0.995, p = 0.013) and CD8+ cells (RR = 0.972, 95% CI 0.954–0.990, p = 0.003). Our findings indicate that BMI could potentially influence the process of premature aging in BD.

Bipolar disorder and tobacco smoking: Categorical and dimensional clinical correlates in subjects from the Brazilian bipolar research network

BackgroundPeople with bipolar disorder (BD) have high rates of smoking. However, the scientific literature examining the association between clinical outcomes in BD and tobacco smoking is still limited and there are conflicting results. The objective of the current study was to comprehensively investigate associations between BD and tobacco smoking in a large Brazilian sample. MethodsThis study evaluated 336 outpatients from the Brazilian Bipolar Research Network, which is a collaboration between three large academic centers in Brazil. Main findingsRegarding the categorical analysis (i.e. current smokers versus non-smokers), tobacco smokers showed: 1) a higher percentage of individuals identifying as Non-Caucasians; 2) a longer duration of illness; 3) a longer duration of untreated illness; 4) more severe manic symptoms; 4) a stronger family history of mood disorder; and 6) a higher current prevalence of alcohol/substance use disorder. The dimensional analysis in smokers (i.e. number of cigarettes per day versus clinical variables) found a positive correlation between number of cigarettes per day and a) age, b) age at onset of BD, c) duration of illness, and d) current diagnosis of panic disorder. ConclusionThis study found important clinical correlates of tobacco smoking in BD subjects. We observed that the variables associated with current smoker status (categorical approach) are not necessarily correlated with number of cigarettes per day (dimensional approach). Duration of illness appears to be a particularly relevant clinical variable in the association between BD and tobacco smoking.

Solar insolation in springtime influences age of onset of bipolar I disorder.

To confirm prior findings that the larger the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation in springtime, the younger the age of onset of bipolar disorder. Data were collected from 5536 patients at 50 sites in 32 countries on six continents. Onset occurred at 456 locations in 57 countries. Variables included solar insolation, birth-cohort, family history, polarity of first episode and country physician density. There was a significant, inverse association between the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation at the onset location, and the age of onset. This effect was reduced in those without a family history of mood disorders and with a first episode of mania rather than depression. The maximum monthly increase occurred in springtime. The youngest birth-cohort had the youngest age of onset. All prior relationships were confirmed using both the entire sample, and only the youngest birth-cohort (all estimated coefficients P < 0.001). A large increase in springtime solar insolation may impact the onset of bipolar disorder, especially with a family history of mood disorders. Recent societal changes that affect light exposure (LED lighting, mobile devices backlit with LEDs) may influence adaptability to a springtime circadian challenge.

Risk factors for suicide attempt: A retrospective study

IntroductionSuicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents.ObjectivesTo investigate suicidal behaviors among Italian adolescents.AimsTo assess the rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) and the associated risk factors in patients admitted to emergency department (ED) of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital.MethodsRetrospective study based on data of patients admitted to the ED from 1 January 2011 to 30 May 2016 who required a neuropsychiatric (NPI) consultation. We analyzed:– outcome of the NPI consultation (hospitalization or discharge);– risk factors for SA and SI;– methods employed for SA.ResultsThe number of NPI consultations for SI and SA increased from 6.45% in 2011 to 13.3% in 2015. More than 90% of consultations recommended hospitalization in the psychiatric unit (137 patient [66% female]; mean age of 15.5 ± 1.6 years) with average length of stay of 13.64 ± 10.63 days. Risk factors for SI and SA were non-suicidal self-injury, family conflicts and previous suicide attempts. Subjects evaluated for a SA reported a significantly higher frequency of family history of mood disorder (χ2 = 5.94; P = 0.02) and a comorbid substance abuse (χ2 = 4.49; P = 0.03) when compared with SI group. The method most frequently used to attempt suicide was ingestion of medications (52.83%).ConclusionsThere was an increasing demand of NPI consultation of SA and SI in the last years. A family history of mood disorder and a history of substance abuse are risk factors able to differentiate between SI and SA.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Major depressive disorder: Recurrence risk factors

IntroductionDespite the frequency and the severity of depressive episodes, the major depressive disorder (MDD) is today inadequately diagnosed and treated, and the risk factors for its recurrence are not well elaborated. The objectives of this study were to describe the sociodemographic, clinical evolutionary and therapeutic features of this disorder and to identify the factors involved in the risk of its recurrence.MethodsThis is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study, involving 150 patients with MDD, isolated episode or recurrent major depressive disorder (RMDD) with a follow-up for at least two years. Data collection was performed using two pre-established questionnaires for the MDD isolated episode and for the RMDD respectively with 51 and 92 items. A study of the recurrence period was performed by Kaplan–Meier method. The Cox-test was used to determine the survival curves and to look for the risk factors significantly associated with MDD recurrence.ResultsA total of 150 patients was gathered, predominantly female, married and from urban origin. The average age at the beginning of the disorder was 35 years. The recurrence period was 109 months and the factors associated with recurrence were the early age of onset of the disorder, family history of mood disorders, the severity of MDE index, residual symptoms and discontinuation of treatment.ConclusionThe study of factors involved in MDD recurrence is of a particular importance since it allows not only to know the group of patients at risk but also to improve their therapeutic care.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Major depressive disorder: Recurrence risk factors

IntroductionIn spite of the frequency and the gravity of the depressive episodes, the major depressive disorder (MDD) is diagnosed and treated today insufficiently and the risk factors of its recurrence are little approached.Aims of the studyDescribe the socio–demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of patients with MDD and identify the factors involved in the recurrence risk.MethodologyThis is a retrospective study carried out in the university hospital of Mahdia, Tunisia during two years. We have included patients with a follow up for at least two years and diagnosed with MDD, isolated episode or MDD, recurrent episode according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Data collection was performed using two pre-established questionnaires respectively with 51 and 92 items. We have estimated the time to recurrence with the Kaplan-Meier estimator.ResultsWe have collected 150 patients. The time to recurrence was 109 months. Five factors were associated with recurrence: early age at onset of the disorder, family history of mood disorders, severity of the index major depressive episode, persistent residual symptoms and ceasing treatment.ConclusionDepression is a very common mental illness that is highly recurrent in individuals. There is great interest in the development of strategies that might reduce the recurrence of depression.

The relative risks, and the likelihoods, of becoming postnatally distressed in the presence of common psychosocial risks: a study with Italian-speaking mothers

AbstractSeveral psychosocial risk factors have been consistently identified for postnatal distress in women, including lack of support, a personal or family history of depression, and recent stressful life events. Studies usually emphasize the statistical nature of these risks, without focusing on their clinical significance, which is important to aid in the communication with expectant couples. Four hundred and sixteen Italian-speaking women attending public health services completed measures, assessing current distress and psychosocial risk variables, at 2–3 months postpartum. Logistic regression, together with the strength of the obtained statistics, is reported. A personal history of depressed mood, stressful events, and conflict with her partner in the past year were risks of at least moderate size, though only for the last variable were half or more of the women with the risk likely to experience distress. A family history of mood disorders was no longer a risk once the woman’s personal history was ...

Aggression Protects Against the Onset of Major Depressive Episodes in Individuals With Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

A growing body of research suggests that bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) are associated with high aggression. However, little research has prospectively examined how aggression may affect time to onset of hypomanic/manic versus major depressive episodes. In a longitudinal study, we tested the hypothesis that aggression would prospectively predict a shorter time to the onset of hypomanic/manic episodes and a longer time to the onset of major depressive episodes, based on the behavioral approach system theory of BSDs. Young adults (N = 120) diagnosed with cyclothymia, bipolar II disorder, or bipolar disorder not otherwise specified were followed every 4 months for an average of 3.55 years. Participants completed measures of depressive and manic symptoms, family history of mood disorder, impulsivity, and aggression at baseline and were followed prospectively with semistructured diagnostic interview assessments of hypomanic/manic and major depressive episodes and treatment seeking for mood problems. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses indicated that overall, physical, and verbal aggression predicted a longer time to major depressive episode onset, even after controlling for baseline depressive and manic symptoms, family history of mood disorder, treatment seeking for mood problems, and impulsivity. Aggression, however, did not significantly predict time to onset of hypomanic/manic episodes, controlling for the same covariates. The findings suggest that approach-related behaviors may be utilized to delay the onset of major depressive episodes among people with BSDs.

Associations between immune activation and the current severity of the "with anxious distress" specifier in patients with depressive disorders.

Immune dysregulation may be linked with depressive disorders and in particular anxiety symptoms. This study compared the levels of immune factors, demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with depressive disorders between mild to moderate and moderate-severe to severe anxious distress groups. This study included 177 patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder who were hospitalized between March 2012 and April 2015. The patients were categorized into mild to moderate and moderate-severe to severe anxious distress groups, based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores on the Agitation and Anxiety-Psychic subscales. The charts of the patients were reviewed to evaluate immune factors, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell levels, confounding factors, such as smoking, other general medical disorders and body mass index, and demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, sex, total HAM-D scores, comorbidities, family history of mood disorders, suicidality, psychotic features and prescription patterns. The moderate-severe to severe group tended to have higher CRP and monocyte levels compared with the mild to moderate group. After adjusting for the HAM-D scores, patients with moderate-severe to severe anxious distress had a significantly greater trend toward significance for suicidality and a higher rate of antipsychotic use. High levels of anxiety symptoms may modulate the inflammatory response and course of illness, affecting treatment planning.

Suicide attempts and clinical features of bipolar patients.

Objectives:To identify clinical predictors of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder.Methods:This study included bipolar patients who were treated in the Psychiatry Department, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, between 2013 and 2014; an informed consent was obtained from the participants. Two hundred and eighteen bipolar patients were assessed by using the structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) Axis-I (SCID-I) in order to detect all possible psychiatric comorbid diagnoses. Clinical predictors of suicide attempts were examined in attempters and non-attempters. The study design was retrospective.Results:The lifetime suicide attempt rate for the entire sample was 19.2%. Suicide attempters with bipolar disorder had more lifetime comorbidity of eating disorder. Female gender and family history of mood disorder were significant predictors for suicide attempts. There was no difference between groups in terms of bipolar disorder subtype, onset age of bipolar disorder, total number of episodes, first and predominant episode type, suicide history in first degree relatives, severity of episodes, and hospitalization and being psychotic.Conclusion:Our study revealed that female gender, family history of mood disorder, and eating disorder are more frequent in bipolar patients with at least one suicide attempt.

Current irritability robustly related to current and prior anxiety in bipolar disorder

BackgroundAlthough current irritability and current/prior anxiety have been associated in unipolar depression, these relationships are less well understood in bipolar disorder (BD). We investigated relationships between current irritability and current/prior anxiety as well as other current emotions and BD illness characteristics. MethodsOutpatients referred to the Stanford Bipolar Disorders Clinic during 2000–2011 were assessed with the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for BD (STEP-BD) Affective Disorders Evaluation. Prevalence and clinical correlates of current irritability and current/prior anxiety and other illness characteristics were examined. ResultsAmong 497 BD outpatients (239 Type I, 258 Type II; 58.1% female; mean ± SD age 35.6 ± 13.1 years), 301 (60.6%) had baseline current irritability. Patients with versus without current irritability had significantly higher rates of current anxiety (77.1% versus 42.9%, p < 0.0001) and history of anxiety disorder (73.1% versus 52.6%, p < 0.0001). Current irritability was more robustly related to current anxiety than to current anhedonia, sadness, or euphoria (all p < 0.001), and current irritability-current anxiety associations persisted across current predominant mood states. Current irritability was more robustly related to past anxiety than to all other assessed illness characteristics, including 1° family history of mood disorder, history of alcohol/substance use disorder, bipolar subtype, and current syndromal/subsyndromal depression (all p < 0.05). LimitationsLimited generalizability beyond our predominately white, female, educated, insured American BD specialty clinic sample. ConclusionsIn BD, current irritability was robustly related to current/prior anxiety. Further studies are warranted to assess longitudinal clinical implications of relationships between irritability and anxiety in BD.

Schizoaffective Disorder in an acute psychiatric unit: Profile of users and agreement with Operational Criteria (OPCRIT).

BackgroundSchizoaffective Disorder is a controversial and poorly understood diagnosis. Experts disagree on whether it is a discrete disorder; whether it is on a spectrum between Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia or whether it even exists. Lack of individual research attention given to this disorder, changing diagnostic criteria and hence poor diagnostic stability have all contributed to the dearth of knowledge surrounding Schizoaffective Disorder.ObjectivesTo describe the profile of mental health care users (MHCUs) diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and determine the degree of agreement between the clinicians’ diagnosis and Operational Criteria (OPCRIT).MethodAll MHCUs at Helen Joseph Hospital psychiatric unit with Schizoaffective Disorder between 01 January 2004 and 31 December 2010 were included. The demographic, clinical and treatment profiles as well as data required for OPCRIT were extracted from hospital records and discharge summaries.ResultsMost MHCUs with Schizoaffective Disorder were female (68.89%), with a mean age of illness onset of 25 years (SD ± 7.11), had a family history of mood disorders (76.92%) and displayed impaired functioning. Majority (80%) were treated with at least one antipsychotic and one mood stabiliser. No agreement was found between the clinicians’ diagnosis and OPCRIT.ConclusionWhile the profile of MHCUs with Schizoaffective Disorder in this study is similar to other studies, the lack of agreement between the clinicians’ and OPCRIT diagnoses calls for further research using larger population samples and a dimensional approach to diagnoses in order to improve understanding and management of Schizoaffective Disorder.

Impulsivity predicts the onset of DSM-IV-TR or RDC hypomanic and manic episodes in adolescents and young adults with high or moderate reward sensitivity

BackgroundA growing body of research suggests that bipolar disorders (BD) are associated with high impulsivity. Using a multi-method approach, the current study provided the first examination of the hypothesis that impulsivity would prospectively predict shorter time to onset of DSM-IV-TR or RDC hypomanic or manic episodes in a sample selected based on reward sensitivity, a biobehavioral trait shown to predict onset and course of BD. Methods163 participants with high reward sensitivity and 114 participants with moderate reward sensitivity were followed every six months for an average of 2.68 years. Participants completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale – Version 11 (BIS-11), Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), Beck Depression Inventory, Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale, and an expanded Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (exp-SADS) – Lifetime Version at baseline and were followed prospectively with the exp-SADS – Change Version to assess onset of hypomanic or manic episodes and treatment seeking for mood problems. ResultsCox proportional hazard regression analyses indicated that impulsivity as measured by a behavioral task (BART; OR=1.04, p=.03) and a self-report measure (BIS-11 Attentional Impulsiveness subscale; OR=1.16, p=.01) predicted shorter time to hypomania/mania onset, after controlling for baseline depressive and manic symptoms, family history of mood disorder, treatment seeking for mood problems, and reward sensitivity. LimitationsThe study was limited by non-comprehensive assessment of impulsivity and unknown generalizability to clinical samples. ConclusionsImpulsivity confers vulnerability to hypomania or mania. Future studies would benefit from considering how impulsivity can be integrated into existing biopsychosocial models of BD.

Childhood trauma, family history, and their association with mood disorders in early adulthood.

To assess the prevalence of childhood trauma and types of trauma on mood disorders among young adults in a population-based sample. We further gathered data on family history of mood disorders to test the hypothesis that childhood trauma is a mediating factor for the association between family history of mood disorder and mood disorder in adulthood. This is a cross-sectional study, including young adults with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and matched controls without any mood disorder. Childhood trauma was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The Hicks and Tingley implementation was employed to assess whether trauma is a mediator of the effect of family history on diagnosis of any mood disorder. All types of trauma were associated with both major depression and bipolar disorder, with the exception of sexual abuse, which was only associated with bipolar disorder. Moreover, family history of psychiatric illness was also associated with mood disorder in adulthood and with childhood trauma. Using the presence of any mood disorder as the outcome, a third of the effect of having any family history of mood disorder was mediated via childhood trauma. This investigation provides further support, in a population-based sample of young adults, of the association between childhood trauma and mood disorders, with sexual abuse being specifically linked with bipolar disorder. The hypothesis that childhood trauma would function as a partial mediator of the association between family history of mood disorder and mood disorder in adulthood was also confirmed.

A Comparative Study of Depressive Episode in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

Distinguishing between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder is important because there are differences in the optimal management of these conditions. Antidepressant treatment of bipolar depression (BPD) can adversely affect long-term prognosis by causingdestabilisation of mood and more frequent depressive episodes, and can lead to the development of treatment resistance. Most people with bipolar disorder experience depression rather than mania as their first episode of illness. It is clinically desirable to recognise, or at least to suspect,bipolar depression at an early stage of a bipolar illness. &#x0D; OBJECTIVE : Comparison of depressive episode in major depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder in a tertiary care general hospital, psychiatry unit. &#x0D; METHOD : 80 cases of unipolar depression and 54 cases of bipolar depression were compared on the basis of socio-demographic profile, family history of mood disorder and clinical features using Semi structured questionnaire for socio-demographic profile and validated Bengaliversion of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). &#x0D; RESULTS : Bipolar depression is characterized by early age of onset, more number of previous episodes, positive family history, more severe in nature associated with prominent features of guilt feeling, self dislike, self accusation, suicidal ideas, irritability, social withdrawal, fatigability and loss of libido. Major depressive disorder shows female preponderance, more number of stressful life events before episodes. Body image change, insomnia, anorexia, weight loss, somatic pre-occupation are more in unipolar depression.