Risk factors for the bipolar and depression spectra

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol. 108; no. s418; pp. 15 - 19
• Main Authors: Angst, J., Gamma, A., Endrass, J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2003; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Affect; bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - etiology; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; depression; Depressive Disorder - etiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Family Relations; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Male; mood lability; Regression Analysis; risk factor; Risk Factors; vulnerability
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 0065-1591; 1600-0447; 1600-5473
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0447.108.s418.4.x

Objective:  To identify risk factors for mood disorders in a community sample studied from the ages of 20 to 35 years. Method:  Social characteristics, a family history of mood disorders and some personality features were analysed as risk factors for bipolar and depressive disorders by means of logistic regression. Results:  Frequent ‘ups and downs’ of mood were the strongest risk factor for both bipolar and depressive disorders; a weaker risk factor for both was emotional/vegetative lability (neuroticism). An additional risk factor for bipolar disorders was a positive family history of mania, whereas for depression it was a positive family history of depression/fatigue. As a risk factor for bipolar disorders, ‘ups and downs’ were much stronger than a positive family history of mania. Frequent ups and downs were independent of the family history of mood disorders. Conclusion:  The results suggest that mood regulation should be investigated as a new, very important independent risk factor for mood disorders.