The EPPIC 800 study: the longer-term clinical and functional outcome of 93 individuals with first episode bipolar disorder

  • Ms Lisa Henry, The University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Professor Michael Berk, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Ms Meredith Harris, University of Queensland, Australia
  • Dr Susan Cotton, Centre of Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Professor Helen Herrman, The University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Professor Henry Jackson, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Professor Patrick McGorry, The University of Melbourne, Australia

The longer-term outcomes of individuals who have had a first episode of mania are not well characterized. The objective of this paper is to describe the long-term functional and clinical outcome of a cohort of individuals with first episode bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
The study design constituted a prospective, naturalistic, epidemiologically representative cohort of 93 individuals with first episode bipolar disorder with psychotic mania, assessed a mean of 7.1 years (SD=1.9) years after initial presentation to a specialized first episode treatment facility (EPPIC).
Preliminary analyses on the cohort of 93 individuals with bipolar disorder at first treatment indicate fair to good functional and clinical recovery at long term follow-up.
The present results suggest that individuals with first episode bipolar disorder might experience long term benefits from early intervention and specialised treatment.