Teens May Experience Delays in Bipolar Progression After Major Depressive Disorder
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Adolescents may experience delayed bipolar disorder (BD) progression after major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, according to a study published online May 29 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Adrian E. Desai Boström, M.D., Ph.D., from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and colleagues examined the association of age at MDD onset with early transition to BD and the subsequent use of psychiatric inpatient services as a severity indicator. The analysis included 114 adults and 114 youths participating in the Stockholm MDD Cohort (1997 to 2018), which encompassed both outpatient and inpatient care.
The researchers found that youth were substantially less likely to transition early (odds ratio, 0.42), despite having more outpatient visits (mean visits per month, 1.21 versus 0.97 for adults). Following a BD diagnosis, both groups experienced substantially reduced inpatient care, concurring with a marked decline in antidepressant use without increased lithium use.
"These results underscore the vital importance of early and accurate BD diagnosis in youths, especially in inpatient settings, and offer crucial insights for tailoring pharmacologic strategies in patients experiencing a first episode of MDD at risk for transitioning to BD," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed ties to Janssen Sweden.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2024
Read this next
Recent Years Saw Increase in Youth With Anxiety, Depression
MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- From 2016 to 2022, there was an increase in the proportion of youth who experienced anxiety or depression, according to a research letter published...
USPSTF Recommends Counseling to Prevent Perinatal Depression
FRIDAY, April 25, 2025 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends counseling for women at increased risk for perinatal depression (PND). This recommendation...
Medical Debt Tied to Higher Likelihood of Forgone Mental Health Care
FRIDAY, April 25, 2025 -- More than one in seven adults reported carrying medical debt in 2023, and of these, one in three forwent mental health care in the subsequent year...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.