Organic manic syndrome: causative factors, phenomenology and immediate outcome

Abstract

A prospective study on organic manic syndromes led to identification of 30 cases over a period of 11 months, constituting 1.75% of all admissions and 4.67% of all patients with mania. They were compared with 60 sex- and age-matched bipolar controls. The mean age of onset of illness was not significantly different in the two groups. Family history of affective disorder was more often negative in organic manics. The overall mania rating score was similar in the two groups, but after 3 months organic manics improved less. Compared to the bipolar group, organic manics were more often irritable, made threats, had delusions, and showed cognitive dysfunctions. The implications of these findings on definition of the organic manic syndrome are discussed.