Table 1.
Characteristics of Subjects Taking Fewer Versus 4 or More Core Psychotropicsa at STEP-BD Entry
| Variable | Subjects Taking < 4 Medicationsb,c |
Subjects Taking ≥ 4 Medicationsb,c |
χ2 | T | df | p | Cohen d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female, N/N (%) | 1713/3061 (56) | 446/676 (66) | 22.353 | … | 1 | < .0001 | 0.09 |
| White, N/N (%) | 2737/3324 (82) | 637/711 (90) | 21.959 | … | 1 | < .0001 | 0.09 |
| Clinical state at study entry, N/N (%) | |||||||
| Recovered | 580/3324 (17) | 116/711 (16) | 0.451 | … | 1 | .502 | 0.00 |
| Manic | 90/3323 (3) | 12/711 (2) | 2.476 | … | 1 | .116 | 0.07 |
| Hypomanic | 129/3323 (4) | 24/711 (3) | 0.412 | … | 1 | .521 | 0.03 |
| Mixed | 243/3323 (7) | 62/711 (9) | 1.660 | … | 1 | .198 | 0.05 |
| Depressed | 994/3323 (30) | 259/711 (36) | 11.609 | … | 1 | .001 | 0.18 |
| Income ≥ $75,000/y, N/N (%) | 747/3324 (22) | 158/711 (22) | 0.009 | … | 1 | .925 | 0.00 |
| Past year rapid cycling, N/N (%) | 1046/2152 (49) | 264/460 (57) | 6.165 | … | 1 | .013 | 0.13 |
| Alcohol abuse/dependence, N/N (%) | 325/3324 (10) | 48/711 (7) | 6.038 | … | 1 | .014 | 0.08 |
| Drug abuse/dependence, N/N (%) | 461/3324 (14) | 84/711 (12) | 1.944 | … | 1 | .163 | 0.05 |
| History of suicide attempt, N/N (%) | 1105/3201 (35) | 338/686 (49) | 52.030 | … | 1 | < .0001 | 0.05 |
| First episode polarity depressed, N/N (%) | 1602/3324 (48) | 369/711 (52) | 3.069 | … | 1 | .080 | 0.05 |
| History of psychosis, N/N (%) | 309/3324 (9) | 96/711 (13) | 11.014 | … | 1 | .001 | 0.02 |
| Age, mean ± SD, y | 39.4 ± 13.1 | 41.3 ± 12.1 | … | 3.468 | 3738 | < .001 | 0.11 |
| Age at illness onset, mean ± SD, y | 16.2 ± 3.6 | 16.4 ± 3.3 | … | 0.907 | 3913 | .182 | 0.03 |
| No. of lifetime manias, mean ± SD | 4.3 ± 1.8 | 4.5 ± 1.6 | … | 2.680 | 3518 | .007 | 0.09 |
| No. of lifetime depressions, mean ± SD | 4.5 ± 1.7 | 4.9 ± 1.4 | … | 5.820 | 3544 | < .0001 | 0.20 |
| CGI-S score at entry, mean ± SD | 3.0 ± 1.3 | 3.3 ± 1.3 | … | 6.230 | 3980 | < .0001 | 0.20 |
| BMI, mean ± SD | 28.2 ± 6.6 | 29.5 ± 7.1 | … | 4.078 | 2942 | < .0001 | 0.15 |
| Bipolar disorder diagnosis, N/N (%) | 16.6 | … | 2 | < .0001 | … | ||
| Bipolar I | 2156/3324 (65) | 510/711 (72) | |||||
| Bipolar II | 913/3324 (27) | 171/711 (24) | |||||
| Bipolar NOS | 255/3324 (8) | 30/711 (4) |
a
Core medications/medication groups are lithium, divalproex, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, other anticonvulsants, atypical antipsychotics, and antidepressants.
b
Percentages are column percentages.
c
Ns vary due to missing data for some analyses.
Abbreviations: BMI = body mass index, CGI-S = Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness, STEP-BD = Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder.
Symbol: … = not applicable.