Panic-agoraphobic Spectrum Symptoms are Associated with Impulsivity in Bipolar Disorder

Background: Bipolar-panic comorbidity seems to configure a specific subgroup of patients from a clinical and genetic point of view. Impulsivity is a core feature of Bipolar Disorder (BD) being a prominent component of mania and mixed mania. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between impulsivity and panic disorder comorbidity or panic spectrum symptoms in patients with BD (BDI and II) and MDD (major depressive disorder). Method: 247 BDI, BDII and MDD eutimic patients are assessed with Structured Clinical Interview Patients Version (SCID-P) for current and lifetime Axis I comorbidity, Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum, Self-Related (MOOD-SR) and the Structured Clinical Interview for Panic-Agoraphobic Spectrum, Self-Related (PAS-SR). With the intention to investigate impulsivity in our study sample, we rationally defined an “Impulsivity dimension” derived form the MOODS-SR shaped on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale items (BIS-11). Results: There was no between-groups difference in impulsivity scores in relationship to the presence/absence of panic disorder comorbidity as assessed with SCID-I. However, patients with subthreshold panic spectrum symptoms showed higher impulsiveness scores. Indeed, a backward stepwise logistic regression in bipolar patients with PAS explained score statistically much higher for impulsivity (pas +6.09 vs pas ? 3.88 p