MedWire (8/24, Cowen) reports, “Childhood abuse and neglect are significantly associated with poorer outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder (BD),” according to ameta-analysis published online Aug. 17 in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
After examining data on 19 studies including 3,875 patients with bipolar disorder, researchers “found that physical abuse was the strongest predictor of unfavorable BD outcomes and was associated with early onset of the disorder, and delay in diagnosis and first treatment.”
Sexual abuse during childhood was “associated with early onset, treatment delay, and rapid-cycling,” as well as with suicidality.
Related Links:
- “Childhood maltreatment linked to poorer BD outcomes,” Mark Cowen, MedWire, August 24, 2011.