Retrospective age at onset of bipolar disorder and outcome during two-year follow-up: results from the STEP-BD study

Abstract

Objective: Symptoms of bipolar disorder are increasingly recognized among children and adolescents, but little is known about the course of bipolar disorder among adults who experience childhood onset of symptoms.

Methods: We examined prospective outcomes during up to two years of naturalistic treatment among 3,658 adult bipolar I and II outpatients participating in a multicenter clinical effectiveness study, the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Age at illness onset was identified retrospectively by clinician assessment at study entry.

Results: Compared to patients with onset of mood symptoms after age 18 years (n = 1,187), those with onset before age 13 years (n = 1,068) experienced earlier recurrence of mood episodes after initial remission, fewer days of euthymia, and greater impairment in functioning and quality of life over the two-year follow-up. Outcomes for those with onset between age 13 and 18 years (n = 1,403) were generally intermediate between these two groups.

Conclusion: Consistent with previous reports in smaller cohorts, adults with retrospectively obtained early-onset bipolar disorder appear to be at greater risk for recurrence, chronicity of mood symptoms, and functional impairment during prospective observation.

Figures

Figure 1

Age at illness onset in bipolar disorder (n = 3,658).

Figure 2

Time to recurrence of depression, mania, hypomania or mixed episodes during up to two years of follow-up, by retrospectively-obtained onset-age group, adjusted for illness duration.

Figure 3

Longitudinal measures of quality of life (A) and functional status (B) among individuals with retrospectively-obtained childhood, adolescent, and adult onset of bipolar disorder. QLESQ = Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire; LIFE-RIFT = Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation-Range of Impaired Functioning Tool. This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NIMH. This article was approved by the publication committee of the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Individual disclosures are listed before the references.

Figure 3

Longitudinal measures of quality of life (A) and functional status (B) among individuals with retrospectively-obtained childhood, adolescent, and adult onset of bipolar disorder. QLESQ = Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire; LIFE-RIFT = Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation-Range of Impaired Functioning Tool. This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NIMH. This article was approved by the publication committee of the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Individual disclosures are listed before the references.