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Gender Differences in Clinical Characteristics and Comorbidities in Bipolar Disorder: a Study from South India

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Abstract

The clinical features and course of bipolar disorder differ between women and men; however, studies are limited in Indian population. The objective of this study was to identify gender differences in patients with bipolar disorder. This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based observational study conducted over a period of 25 months. The sample consisted of 110 males and 90 females with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder according to ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research. Socio-demographic and clinical details were collected using semi-structured proforma. All patients were evaluated on Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus, Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale and Clinical Global Impression. Sample consisted of 55% men and 45% women. The total number of episodes was similar between genders, however, the number of manic episodes (p = 0.004) was significantly more in males and the number of depressive (p = 0.003) and mixed episodes (p = 0.018) were significantly more in females. Majority of males had first episode of mania, whereas, first episode in females were mostly depressive (p < 0.001). Comorbid physical disorders were seen in 61.1% females and 40% males. Bipolar disorder subtype, episode types and number varied across gender. Co-morbid hypothyroidism, migraine, and obesity are seen more often in women and substance use was higher in men.

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Author notes

  1. Shripathy M. Bhat

    Present address: Chaitanya, Anant Nagar HIG, Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Udupi, India

    Manjunadh Pillai, Ravindra Neelakanthappa Munoli, Samir Kumar Praharaj & Shripathy M. Bhat

  2. International Psychiatry Fellowship Doctor, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Northumberland Tyne and Wear, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Manjunadh Pillai

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Contributions

The study was conceived by all the authors. The first author collected the data and second author wrote the first draft. The third author performed the statistical analysis. All the authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Samir Kumar Praharaj.

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The study has been approved by Institutional Ethics Committee and is in according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Pillai, M., Munoli, R.N., Praharaj, S.K. et al. Gender Differences in Clinical Characteristics and Comorbidities in Bipolar Disorder: a Study from South India. Psychiatr Q 92, 693–702 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-020-09838-y

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