Table 1.
Demographics & Clinical Characteristics in Lithium Users and Non-Users with Bipolar Disorder (BD), n = 129
| Variable | Li Users (n = 66) | Non-Li Users (n = 63) | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), [mean (±SD)] | 49.05 (11.78) | 46.71 (11.20) | U = 1850.5, p = 0.281, z = −1.077 |
| % Male, [% (n=)] | 43.94% (n = 29) | 53.96% (n = 34) | p = 0.043, x2 = 0.169 |
| Age of onset of any psychiatric symptoms, [% (n=)] | p = 0.017, x2 = 13.8 | ||
| Age < 18 | 33.84% (n = 22) | 59.68% (n = 37) | |
| Age 18–30 | 43.08% (n = 28) | 24.19% (n = 15) | |
| Age 30–50 | 18.46% (n = 12) | 12.90% (n = 8) | |
| Age > 50 | 4.62% (n = 3) | 0.0% (n = 0) | |
| Not known | 0.0% (n = 0) | 3.23% (n = 2) | |
| Total number of previous mood episodes, [% (n=)] | p = 0.001, x2 = 15.9 | ||
| 1 episode | 11.67% (n = 7) | 0% (n = 0) | |
| 2 episodes | 10% (n = 6) | 0% (n = 0) | |
| 3 episodes | 8.33% (n = 5) | 3.33% (n = 2) | |
| > 4 episodes | 70% (n = 45) | 91.67% (n = 55) | |
| MADRS score, [mean (±SD)] | 4.30 (4.62) | 6.81 (6.93) | U = 4922.5, p = 0.045, z = −2.01 |
| YMRS score, [mean (±SD)] | 4.42 (8.03) | 15.90 (12.80) | U = 719, p = 1.57^-12, z = −7.07 |
| Number of psychotropic medications, n = 126, [mean (±SD)] | 3.13 (1.72) | 3.40 (1.40) | U = 1738, p = 0.280, z = −1.080 |
| On anticonvulsants, [n (%)] | 36.5% (n = 23) | 82.5% (n = 52) | p = 1.414 × 10–7, x2 = 27.70 |
| On antidepressants, [n (%)] | 38.1% (n = 24) | 57.1% (n = 36) | p = 0.032, x2 = 4.582 |
| On antipsychotics, [n (%)] | 58.7% (n = 37) | 76.2% (n = 48) | p = 0.036, x2 = 4.375 |
| Number of non-psychotropic medications, [mean (±SD)] | 0.67 (1.004) | 2.37 (2.951) | U = 674, p = 0.001, z = −3.371 |
| For hypertension, n = 117, [n (%)] | 13.0% (n = 7) | 19% (n = 12) | p = 0.791, x2 = 0.374 |
| For diabetes, n = 117, [n (%)] | 7.4% (n = 4) | 22.2% (n = 14) | p = 0.027, x2 = 4.902 |
| For dyslipidemia, n = 117, [n (%)] | 3.7% (n = 2) | 22.2% (n = 14) | p = 0.004, x2 = 8.447 |
| For thyroid, n = 105, [n (%)] | 18.4% (n = 9) | 23.2% (n = 13) | p = 0.543, x2 = 0.371 |
Abbreviations: Li Lithium, Stats Statistics, MADRS Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, YMRS Young Mania Rating Scale