Research staff
Dr. M. Strauß, PD Dr. P. Schönknecht, Prof. Dr. U. Hegerl
Background
Depressive episodes can become manifest within a shorter (< 1 hour) or a
longer (> 1 month) time period. Previous investigations demonstrate, that
depressive episodes presenting within bipolar affective disorders often show a
faster temporal progression than those within unipolar affective disorders. This
observation implicates possibly different underlying neurobiological
patho-mechanisms that might characterize subgroups of affective disorders.
In this project the temporal manifestation of depressive episodes within
unipolar and bipolar affective disorders will be systematically measured in a
consecutive group of patients using the "Onset-of-Depression Inventory" (ODI) -
a structured patient interview. Patients with "life events" immediately
preceding their depressive episode will be excluded from the analysis.
Perspectively, this will help to recognize bipolar affective disorders as soon
as possible and to identify possible neurobiological subgroups.
Aim
This project will examine the following hypothesis: A depressive episode within a bipolar affective disorder becomes manifest
faster than a depressive episode within a unipolar depression
