Assessment of comorbidity of adult seperation anxiety in patients with bipolar disorder

Aim: The aim of this study was establishing the comorbidity and the effects on the functionality and the ilness of adult seperation anxiety in patients with bipolar disorder followed up in Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic Material and Method: The interventions were completed at two steps. At the first step sociodemographic data form, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I), Bipolar Disorder Data Form, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Structured Clinical Interview for Adult Seperation Anxiety Sypmptoms were filled by clinician. At the second step Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders, Functionality Scale for Bipolar Disorder, Symptom Inventory for Seperation Anxiety, Survey for Adult Seperation Anxiety were filled by patients Findings: 38 ( 54%) of 70 bipolar disorder patients had the diagnosis of ASAD. 14(36%) of the 38 ASAD patients were adult onset, 24 of the 38 ASAD patients were childhood onset. There were no significant differences between the bipolar disorder patients with or without ASAD in the areas of sociodemographic variables, medica lhistory or family history. There was a high ratio in the personality disorder comorbidity in the group of childhood onset seperation anxiety. Life long spesific phobia comorbidity in the group of bipolar disorder patients with ASAD is higher than bipolar disorder patients without ASAD. Suicide ratio is higher in the group of bipolar disorder patients with ASAD. There were no significant differences between the bipolar disorder patients with or without ASAD in the areas of number of episodes, age of onset, time forillness, hospitalisation, electocronvulsive therapy, seasonality or medical therapy. Hamilton Anxiety Scale points were higher in the group of bipolar disorder patients with ASAD. Feeling of stigmatization and total functionality degrees were significantly lower as statistically in the group of bipolar disorder patients with ASAD. Result: This study shows 54 % of bipolar disorder patients had the diagnosis of ASAD and 1/3 of ASAD patients were adult onset. This study also shows ASAD has negative effects on suicide attemptratio and functionality. Seperation anxiety disorder must be checked during the psychiatric interviews of bipolar disorder patients Key Words: Seperation Anxiety, bipolar disorder, comorbidity