Psychiatry Research EG

Objective This study was performed to provide data on the underlying laboratory findings as part of the pathophysiology of manic symptoms in first episode bipolar-I manic disorder and to finda correlation between laboratory findings and severity of disorder. Patients and methods A total of 30 patients with first episode bipolar-I manic disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria participated in the study. They were referred from the outpatient clinic of psychiatry at Assiut University Hospital and from the private clinics of the staff members of neuropsychiatry, who were evaluated with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) to assess the severity of bipolar disorder and laboratory assessment which include: serum cortisol level (a.m. and p.m. tests), serum thyroid hormone level (T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone), and serum serotonin level. A total of 15 healthy controls matched with the patient groups in age, sex, and socioeconomic status were assessed using the same tools. Results We found that the mean thyroid-stimulating hormone, T3 and, serum serotonin levels were higher in cases than in controls whereas the mean T4 and cortisol p.m. levels were lower in cases than controls and a positive significant correlation was found between the YMRS score and T3, T4, and cortisol p.m. level. Conclusion The underlying laboratory findings are a specific pathophysiology of manic symptoms and there is a positive correlation between laboratory findings and severity of manic symptoms evaluated with the YMRS.