Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Premorbid Adjustment in Bipolar Disorder: Comparison With Schizophrenia.

Uzelac S, Jaeger J, Berns S, Gonzales C

*Center for Neuropsychiatric Outcome and Rehabilitation Research, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Glen Oaks, New York; and †Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York.

Knowledge that poor premorbid adjustment (PMA) precedes illness onset in many schizophrenia cases can facilitate early detection. Increasing consideration is being given to a similar early detection strategy for bipolar disorder (BPD). Results of this preliminary investigation comparing PMA in BPD (N = 53) and schizophrenia (N = 39) outpatients revealed a significant difference at the late adolescent (F[1,58] = 4.499, p = 0.038) stage only, with specific differences in two areas of PMA: adaptation to school (t [58] = 1.83, p = 0.036) and social sexual functioning (t [58] = 2.441, p = 0.009). However, mood state may affect some PMA ratings in BPD. Depression ratings were not correlated with reported late adolescent PMA, but a significant, positive correlation was found for the childhood stage (r = 0.32, p = 0.02). Findings fail to support a trend similar to schizophrenia of deteriorating PMA in BPD; however, the approach to investigations of PMA in BPD may need to be reconsidered.

Published 14 September 2006 in J Nerv Ment Dis, 194(9): 654-658.
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