Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare patients with bipolar disorder who have manic episode with or without psychotic features according to oxidative stress indices.
Method: This study included 61 euthymic bipolar patients diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria who were followed-up at the Mood Disorders Unit of Gaziantep University Sahinbey Research and Education Hospital’s Psychiatry Clinic and 41 healthy controls without any psychiatric disorder history. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured at the Harran University Biochemistry Laboratory from blood samples obtained appropriately from the patients and the controls.
Results: Comparison of mean TAS, TOS, and OSI levels revealed that the patient group had significantly higher oxidative stress indices. No statistical differences were found in comparison of TAS, TOS, and OSI levels between patients with or without psychotic features.
Discussion: Our results demonstrated that psychotic symptoms did not cause additional oxidative stress in bipolar disorder patients. However, oxidative balance was found to be impaired in bipolar disorder patients. Antioxidant level might have increased to compensate increased oxidant level.

Key words: bipolar disorder, psychotic symptoms, TAS, TOS, OSI