Phenomenology of manic episodes according to the presence or absence of depressive features as defined in DSM-5: Results from the IMPACT self-reported online survey

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to describe the phenomenology of mania and depression in bipolar patients experiencing a manic episode with mixed features as defined in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).MethodsIn this multicenter, international on-line survey (the IMPACT study), 700 participants completed a 54-item questionnaire on demographics, diagnosis, symptomatology, communication of the disease, impact on life, and treatment received. Patients with a manic episode with or without DSM-5 criteria for mixed features were compared using descriptive and inferential statistics.ResultsPatients with more than 3 depressive symptoms were more likely to have had a delay in diagnosis, more likely to have experienced shorter symptom-free periods, and were characterized by a marked lower prevalence of typical manic manifestations. All questionnaire items exploring depressive symptomatology, including the DSM-5 criteria defining a manic episode as “with mixed features”, were significantly overrepresented in the group of patients with depressive symptoms. Anxiety associated with irritability/agitation was also more frequent among patients with mixed features.LimitationsRetrospective cross-sectional design, sensitive to recall bias. Two of the 6 DSM-5 required criteria for the specifier “with mixed features” were not explored: suicidality and psychomotor retardation.ConclusionsBipolar disorder patients with at least 3 depressive symptoms during a manic episode self-reported typical symptomatology. Anxiety with irritability/agitation differentiated patients with depressive symptoms during mania from those with “pure” manic episodes. The results support the use of DSM-5 mixed features specifier and its value in research and clinical practice.