Residual symptoms after treatment of acute depressive episodes in patients with bipolar disorder and their influencing factors

Huang Juan; Fu Bingbing; Yang Fang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-6574.2019.03.014

Abstract：Objectives? To explore the residual symptoms and its influencing factors after the treatment of bipolar disorder in the acute phase of depression. Methods? This is a single center, cross-sectional study. Clinical data from the medical records of 130 outpatient or hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder (BD) whose last episode was depression and were treated in Beijing Anding Hospital between February and December 2016 was collected. A total of 121 cases were included in this study. Patients' demographic and clinical data were collected using a mix of standardized scales and interviews. Results? A total of 121 patients were interviewed in this study. The proportion of patients with residual depressive symptoms was 23.1% (28/121). Gender (χ2 =17.90, P＜ 0.01), acute phase with sleep disorders (χ2 =7.37,P=0.01), episode times in the past two years (Z=-2.46,P=0.01) were significantly different between clinical remission group and residual symptom group. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that male, acute phase with sleep disorders, more episode times in the past two years were independently associated with residual depressive symptoms. Patients with residual depressive symptoms were more depressive and significantly more impaired than the remission group. Conclusions? Residual depressive symptoms may occur in some patients after the acute phase of bipolar depression. Being male, more episode times in the past two years were significantly associated with residual depressive symptoms. Residual depressive symptoms have negatively impact on patients so we should strive to enhance treatment plans to improve the prognosis.