Associated variables with bipolar disorder risk in a sample of Colombian women with eating disorders

Objective To analyse a set of variables and their potential impact on the risk for bipolar disorder (BD) in 324 Colombian women with eating disorders (ED), attending in an outpatient program between June 1997 and April 2004. Methods BD in relatives, multi‐impulsive behaviour (presence of binges and purges associated with self‐injuries, kleptomania, trichotilomania, or suicide attempt), substance abuse, and substance abuse in relatives, were compared in 62 Cases with ED and BD, and 262 Controls of the same clinical cohort with ED without BD. Diagnosis was made using SCID‐I and DSM IV criteria. Results In this sample, 62 patients with BD of any type (19.1%) were found. Patients with BD and ED have a greater than 13‐fold higher risk of familial bipolarity and multi‐impulsive behaviour, compared with patients without this comorbidity (OR=13.2, 95% CI 6.3–27.6). Discussion These findings agree with the hypothesis that EDs associated with multi‐impulsivity, could be part of Bipolar II Spectrum. The early diagnosis of BD is crucial to decide the mood‐stabilisers use as soon as possible and prevent greater chronicity, mood‐cycle shortening and poor prognosis in both disorders. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.