Project Summary

Christopher Baethge, M.D., (Young Investigator 2004) of McLean Hospital and Harvard University, proposes studying when and why individuals with bipolar disease use alcohol and other illicit drugs. Although people with bipolar disease have a tendency to abuse alcohol and other substances more frequently than those with other psychiatric disease, why they do so remains unknown. What is clear is that prognosis worsens for people with bipolar disease who do abuse substances, making it important to study the phenomenon, particularly early in the disorder. In the proposed project, Dr. Baethage will analyze data from approximately 200 individuals with bipolar disease to assess their substance abuse behaviors over time. Sophisticated statistical analyses will elucidate the predictive value of different clinical states for the use of certain drugs and their timing and look at overall clinical and functional outcomes. Knowledge of why and when people with bipolar disease abuse substances could lead to better diagnosis and interventions for these patients.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Mood Disorders (General)\Substance Abuse (General)

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