A study comparing socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients of unipolar and bipolar depression

Abstract

Background: Depression can be classified into Unipolar and bipolar depression on basis of the presence or absence of manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes in past. Studies have revealed significant differences between bipolar (BD) and unipolar depression (UD). Misdiagnosing BD results in suboptimal symptom resolution, induction of manic switch, mixed state, or accelerated cycling. This study compares various socio-demographic,and phenomenological factors associated with BD and UD. Materials and Methods: We compared 30 UD and 30 BD patients using a socio-demographic proforma, International Classification of Diseases 10 diagnostic criteria for research, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression17 (HAMD17), Hypomania Checklist32 Questionnaire (HCL-32), Brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), and Kuppuswami’s socioeconomic status scale. Results and conclusion: Statistically significant difference found between UD and BD group in auditory hallucinations, FRS [First rank Symptoms], delusions, panic symptoms and cognitive symptoms of depression. Binary logistic regression analysis identified the age of onset, the total duration of illness, no of episodes, and presence of delusions as predictors of bipolarity (odds ratio = 1.3; 0.92; 1.17; 4.7). Depressive episode of BD are more disabling as compared to those with UD. With the emergence of bipolar depression it becomes paramount not to miss bipolarity with first episode depression