Comparing remitted unipolar and bipolar depressive disorder according to the clinical features

Objective: Mood disorders has been classified in two subgroups, which are namely bipolar and depressive disorders according to the type of the episode. The authors report that bipolar disorder with manic episode and unipolar disorder without manic and hypomanic episode can represent the two pole of a spectrum. It is seen that 15% of unipolar disorder switch to bipolar disorder. It is important for patients with major depressive disorder concerning which of them remains unipolar and which of them switches to bipolar disorder and there is no predictor demonstrated for identifying the switch. The studies report that there are some clinical and sociodemographic differences between these two disorders. In this study we aimed to compare remitted unipolar and bipolar depressive patients concerning some clinical and sociodemographic factors.

Method: 53 unipolar and 52 bipolar depressive patients admitted to the university hospital psychiatry outpatient clinic were enrolled to the study, who were remitted according to the DSM-IV TR criteria. Patients were assessed with applying sociodemographic form including sociodemographic and clinical questions.

Results: In the unipolar group, patients reported more stressful life events at the last episode. In the bipolar group, the age of onset was earlier, currently drug use were more and the duration of disease was longer. In addition to these, the number of psychotic featured episodes, suicidal attempts, and hospitalization were more than unipolar group.

Conclusion: Current DSM system distinguishes unipolar and bipolar episode only according to the character of the episode. This distinction is for the progress of the disease but not identifies the bipolar disorder without history of manic or hypomanic episode yet. Therefore distinguishing the clinical, demographical and biological diversities between unipolar and bipolar depression is very important. Distinction on the basis of these features guides the clinicians about the progress and treatment options of the disorder.