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Bipolar Affective Disorder in Old Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Kenneth Shulman  and
Felix Post
Kenneth Shulman
Affiliation:
Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Department of Psychiatry, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Felix Post
Affiliation:
The Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospitals, Denmark Hill, London SE5
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Summary

In a retrospective study of 67 elderly bipolar patients the first manic attack occurred at about age 60, often after a long period from the time of the first affective episode, after which further depressive episodes occurred. This calls into question Perris’ criteria for unipolar diagnosis. Among the men, a preponderance of cerebral-organic disorders was found. The evidence for sub-classification of bipolar disorders into secondary or symptomatic manias is discussed. The recurrent nature of the illness in old age stresses the need for further evaluation of lithium prophylaxis.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 136 , Issue 1 , January 1980 , pp. 26 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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