Correlation and impact of metabolic syndrome in bipolar disorder

Bipolar Disorder is a chronic episodic illness with frequent alterations of mania and depression. Various physical problems are known to affect the course and outcome of Bipolar Disorder. Out of them metabolic syndrome is a well known co-morbid condition which shares common risk factors and also worsens the disease course, may contribute to premature mortality in Bipolar Disorder. Hence, the knowledge about the metabolic abnormalities in Bipolar Disorder can help us in planning the treatment of Bipolar Disorder to get better prognosis. In this background the present study was conducted in patients with Bipolar Disorder to assess the relationship between them. Increasing age, more number of lifetime depressive episodes and the more total number of lifetime episodes appear to be predictors for the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in patients with Bipolar disorder. We thus have valuable insight about the relationship between metabolic syndrome and Bipolar disorder. The presence of metabolic syndrome influences the course and severity of the illness. It is possible to detect the presence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in the early stages of their development and plan timely intervention. This would help in altering the course and severity of the illness in a favorable manner