ABSTRACT:
Aim: The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic, familial, childhood and various clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder patients in whom hypomanic/manic switches were observed during treatment with antidepressant drugs. Method: One hundred sixty-one patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder on the basis of DSM-IV TR were included. The study was a retrospective case file review. The sociodemographic, familial, childhood and various clinical characteristics of patients with manic or hypomanic switches (n=41, 25.4%) observed in association with antidepressant treatment during polyclinic or ward monitoring, or without switches (n=120, 74.6%) were compared. Patient data were obtained from Psychiatric Association of Turkey Mood Disorders Branch patient record forms.Results: The first disease episode in the switch group was more commonly a depressive one (p=0.001). Cesarean birth (p=0.027) and enüresis nokturna (p=0.034) were more common childhood characteristics in the switch group. No difference was determined between the groups in terms of other characteristics (p>0.05). Conclusions In conclusion, physicians should be careful in terms of hypomanic/manic switch in patients whose first episode is a depressive one. Our other two findings, Cesarian birth and enuresis nocturna, may be significant in terms of suggesting clues for the planning of new studies illuminating the etiology.
Key words: bipolar disorder, antidepressant treatment, switch
Key words: Key words: bipolar disorder, antidepressant treatment, switch
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