Table 1 Comparison of baseline characteristics between medication groups
Demographic and illness characteristics | Lithium, (n = 29)1 | Valproate (n = 56)2 | Combination, (n = 17)3 | Group difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statistic | p-value | ||||
Sex [male, n (%)] | 11 (37.9) | 17 (30.4) | 7 (41.2) | χ2 = 0.913 | 0.686 |
Age (current) [years, mean (SD)] | 34.2 (9.2) | 31.6 (8.65) | 30.6 (8.3) | F = 1.113 | 0.332 |
Education [years, mean (SD)] | 15.3 (2.3) | 15.0 (2.0) | 14.6 (1.7) | F = 0.617 | 0.542 |
Diagnosis [BD-I, n (%)] | 28 (96.6) | 44 (78.6) | 15 (88.2) | FE | 0.063 |
Age at onset [years, mean (SD)] | 24.9 (9.3) | 22.0 (7.1) | 23.8 (8.4) | F = 1.362 | 0.261 |
Polarity at first episode [(hypo) manic, n (%)] | 15 (51.7) | 23 (41.1) | 11 (48.0) | χ2 = 3.139 | 0.208 |
Pre-index-medication illness duration [years, mean (SD)]a | 7.8 (5.8) | 8.3 (6.6) | 7.1 (4.5) | F = 0.239 | 0.788 |
Frequency of episodes [frequent, n (%)] | |||||
 Total episodes | 6 (20.7) | 14 (25.0) | 4 (23.5) | χ2 = 0.197 | 0.906 |
 Major depressive episodes | 5 (17.2) | 10 (17.9) | 4 (23.5) | χ2 = 0.328 | 0.849 |
 (Hypo)manic episodes | 6 (20.7) | 15 (26.8) | 5 (29.4) | χ2 = 0.539 | 0.764 |
Family history of psychiatric disorders [present, n (%)] | 18 (62.1) | 34 (60.7) | 9 (61.0) | χ2 = 0.414 | 0.813 |
Family history of mood disorders [present, n (%)] | 12 (41.4) | 21 (37.5) | 6 (35.3) | χ2 = 0.196 | 0.906 |
Any anxiety disorder [present, n (%)] | 5 (17.2) | 13 (23.2) | 1 (5.9) | χ2 = 2.636 | 0.268 |
Obsessive–compulsive disorder [present, n (%)] | 5 (17.2) | 10 (17.9) | 1 (5.9) | FE | 0.465 |
Seasonality [present, n (%)] | 4 (13.8) | 21 (21.4) | 4 (23.5) | χ2 = 1.541 | 0.819 |
Rapid cycling [present, n (%)] | 1 (3.4) | 3 (5.4) | 0 (0.0) | FE | 1.000 |
Psychotic symptoms [present, n (%)] | 26 (89.7) | 41 (73.2) | 13 (76.5) | χ2 = 3.099 | 0.212 |
Mixed episodes | 8 (27.6) | 13 (23.6) | 3 (17.6) | χ2 = 0.585 | 0.746 |
Symptoms of (hypo)manic episodes | Present, n (%) | Present, n (%) | Present, n (%) | χ2 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elevated mood | 25 (86.2) | 39 (69.6) | 14 (82.4) | 3.306 | 0.192 |
Irritability | 12 (41.4) | 24 (42.9) | 8 (47.1) | 0.145 | 0.930 |
Grandiosity | 23 (79.3) | 36 (64.3) | 11 (64.7) | 2.149 | 0.341 |
Decreased sleep need | 27 (93.1) | 41 (73.2) | 16 (94.1) | 7.143 | 0.028b |
Talkativeness | 23 (79.3) | 47 (83.9) | 13 (76.5) | 0.592 | 0.744 |
Flight of idea | 24 (82.8) | 39 (70.9) | 12 (70.6) | 1.539 | 0.463 |
Distractibility | 27 (93.1) | 44 (78.6) | 15 (88.2) | FE | 0.186 |
Hyperactivity | 27 (93.1) | 49 (87.5) | 16 (94.1) | FE | 0.732 |
Excessive involvement in activity | 22 (75.9) | 36 (64.3) | 71 (69.6) | 1.664 | 0.435 |
Delusion | 20 (69.0) | 28 (50.0) | 12 (70.6) | 4.003 | 0.135 |
Hallucination | 6 (20.7) | 16 (29.1) | 6 (35.3) | 1.254 | 0.534 |
Symptoms of depressive episodes | Present, n (%) | Present, n (%) | Present, n (%) | χ2 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Depressed mood | 24 (82.8) | 45 (80.4) | 10 (13.2) | 4.116 | 0.128 |
Decreased interest | 23 (79.3) | 42 (75.0) | 10 (58.8) | 2.449 | 0.294 |
Appetite change | |||||
 No appetite change | 13 (44.8) | 25 (44.6) | 9 (52.9) | 0.387 | 0.824 |
 Decreased appetite | 12 (41.4) | 21 (37.5) | 5 (29.4) | 0.660 | 0.719 |
 Increased appetite | 2 (6.9) | 5 (8.9) | 1 (5.9) | FE | 1.000 |
Insomnia | 19 (65.5) | 40 (71.4) | 7 (41.2) | 5.238 | 0.073 |
Hypersomnia | 8 (27.6) | 16 (28.6) | 3 (17.6) | 0.826 | 0.662 |
Agitation | 8 (27.6) | 15 (26.8) | 5 (29.4) | 0.046 | 0.977 |
Retardation | 12 (41.4) | 22 (39.3) | 3 (17.6) | 3.098 | 0.212 |
Fatigue or loss of energy | 23 (79.3) | 40 (71.4) | 10 (58.8) | 2.212 | 0.331 |
Guilty feeling or worthlessness | 17 (58.6) | 28 (50.0) | 50 (49.0) | 3.707 | 0.157 |
Indecisiveness (concentration) | 23 (79.3) | 41 (73.2) | 10 (58.8) | 2.286 | 0.319 |
Suicidal ideation | 15 (51.7) | 31 (55.4) | 8 (47.1) | 0.385 | 0.825 |
Delusion | 8 (27.6) | 15 (26.8) | 6 (35.3) | 0.478 | 0.787 |
Hallucination | 3 (10.3) | 9 (16.1) | 2 (11.8) | FE | 0.923 |