Adults with manic episodes have an approximately equivalent relative risk of developing depression episodes and anxiety disorders, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed 34,653 adults in Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a longitudinal nationally representative survey of US adults interviewed 3 years apart. They used logistic regression analyses to estimate the strength of associations between Wave 1 manic episodes and Wave 2 depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders, controlling for background characteristics and lifetime Wave 1 disorders. Corresponding analyses examined associations between Wave 1 major depressive episodes with manic episodes and other psychiatric disorders. They found:

• In multivariable models, Wave 1 manic episodes significantly increased the odds of Wave 2 major depressive episodes and any anxiety disorder, although not of substance abuse disorders.

• Conversely, Wave 1 major depressive episodes significantly increased risk of Wave 2 manic episodes and anxiety disorders, although not substance abuse disorders.

Citation: Olfson M, Mojtabai R, Merikangas KR, Compton WM, Wang S, et al. Reexamining associations between mania, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders: Results from a prospective national cohort. [Published online ahead of print May 3, 2016]. Mol Psychiatry. doi:10.1038/mp.2016.64.