Researchers for the STEP-BD program have found a link between bipolar disorder and anxiety. Of the participants with bipolar disorder studied, over half presented a co-occurring anxiety disorder. They further hope to determine whether effective treatment of anxiety symptoms can lessen bipolar disorder severity, improve response to treatment of manic or depressive symptoms, or reduce suicidality. The researchers of the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) project reported in the December, 2004, issue of American Journal of Psychiatry that there is a link between bipolar disorder and anxiety. The STEP-BD project, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, involves participants from a number of different centers for the purpose of evaluating the longitudinal outcome of patients with bipolar disorder. In this particular aspect of the study, researchers looked at anxiety and its related symptoms in a cross-section of the first 500 patients enrolled in the study. Patients included both those with bipolar I and II disorders.

Results found that of those studied:

* Over half presented co-occurring anxiety disorders,
* Those with both disorder were associated with younger age at onset,
* There was a decreased likelihood of recovery,
* There was poorer role functioning and quality of life,
* There was a greater likelihood of suicide attempts.

Those conducting the study note that these findings highlight “the need for greater clinical attention to anxiety in this population, particularly for enhanced clinical monitoring of suicidality. In addition, it is important to determine whether effective treatment of anxiety symptoms can lessen bipolar disorder severity, improve response to treatment of manic or depressive symptoms, or reduce suicidality.”


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