Patterns of recurrence in mood disorders: a clinical study in Upper Egypt

ABSTRACT

Fifty Upper Egyptian patients were studied using a semi-structured psychiatric interview to characterize their patterns of recurrence. Both sexes were equally represented, their ages ranged between 18-46 years, most of them were unemployed and illiterate. 48% had bipolar affective disorder [more common in females]. BAD had a younger age of onset than UAD, 26% had definite seasonal pattern of recurrence, mostly in winter time. In 58% of patients, precipitating factors played a role in their earlier episodes, then both the presence of and severity of stressful events diminishes with progress of illness. Prodromal symptoms were reported by 46% of the patients. The mean duration of affective episodes was nearly constant [about one month] along the course of the affective disorder and 76% of patients displayed constant clinical picture. The duration of emission reported residual symptoms in the inter-episode periods. Compliance to treatment was found to affect greatly the rate of relapses