Eugene Gorski K. C. Willis
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Introduction: The incidence of bipolar disorder
in the general population has been estimated at approximately 5%.
The purpose of this study was to establish a relationship between
patients' complaints on arrival to a primary care clinic and
their subsequent scores on the Hirschfeld Mood Disorder
Questionnaire (MDQ).
Method: After reviewing data obtained from 178
consecutive patients, 171 were found adequate for study
inclusion. The inclusion criteria for this study were
presentation to a family practice office for care regardless of
complaint and age of 18 years or older. Study participants were
asked to complete a historical/demographic questionnaire, which
gathered data on primary and secondary complaints and medication
history, and the MDQ.
Results: Thirty patients (17.5%) tested positive
on the MDQ for bipolar symptoms; all were aged 65 years or under.
Of those who tested positive, 20% (N = 6) presented with a
primary complaint of anxiety or depression. Somatic primary
complaints of pain and headache carried a high likelihood of
secondary complaints of anxiety or depression.
Conclusion: Patients with complicated or
multiple somatic complaints in primary care may also have
concomitant undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Clinicians should use a
high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder
when treating patients with these assessment characteristics.
Further research is necessary to determine if these trends are
applicable in a larger population.
Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry 2003;5(5):201-204
https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.v05n0503
© Copyright 2003 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.