Goldstein Benjamin I, Levitt Anthony J
Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5.
Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;163(9):1633-6. doi: 10.1176/ajp.2006.163.9.1633.
This study examines the relationship between age at onset of bipolar I disorder and illness characteristics among adults in a community sample.
The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions identified 1,411 adults with bipolar disorder. For analyses, bipolar disorder subjects were divided into three age at onset groups: childhood (less than 13 years old, N=113), adolescence (13-18 years old, N=339), and adulthood (19 years or older, N=959).
Nonremitting bipolar disorder was most prevalent among childhood-onset subjects, and childhood-onset subjects were most likely to experience prolonged episodes. Antisocial personality disorder was most prevalent among childhood-onset subjects. Drug use disorders were more prevalent among childhood-onset and adolescent-onset, as compared with adult-onset, subjects. Prevalence of mixed episodes or irritability did not differ significantly between groups.
Findings corroborate clinical studies: illness characteristics among adults with childhood-onset bipolar disorder are similar to those described in children with bipolar disorder.
本研究探讨社区样本中成人双相I型障碍的起病年龄与疾病特征之间的关系。
全国酒精及相关疾病流行病学调查确定了1411例双相情感障碍成人患者。为进行分析，双相情感障碍受试者被分为三个起病年龄组：儿童期（小于13岁，N = 113）、青少年期（13 - 18岁，N = 339）和成年期（19岁及以上，N = 959）。
慢性双相情感障碍在儿童期起病的受试者中最为普遍，且儿童期起病的受试者最易经历长时间发作。反社会人格障碍在儿童期起病的受试者中最为普遍。与成年期起病的受试者相比，药物使用障碍在儿童期起病和青少年期起病的受试者中更为普遍。各组之间混合发作或易激惹的患病率无显著差异。
研究结果证实了临床研究：儿童期起病的双相情感障碍成人患者的疾病特征与双相情感障碍儿童患者中所描述的特征相似。
