Age at onset of type-I bipolar disorder (BD-I) typically averages 12-24 years, is older among patients with type-II-BD (BD-II), even though generally before 50-years-old (EOBD). Clinical observation of late-onset BD (LOBD) posed some questions regarding a differential phenotypic/psychopathological manifestations and affective temperaments between LOBD vs EOBD.

A case-control pilot-study was carried out to investigate psychopathological, clinical and temperamental features of a psychogeriatric cohort of LOBD and EOBD subjects.

Out of 74 enrolled patients, 64 patients (31 EOBD, 33 LOBD) were included and administered an ad hoc socio-demographic datasheet, BPRS, CGI, GAF, HAM-D, GDS, MSRS, MRS, MOCA and TEMPS-M.

LOBD is significantly associated with higher rates of BD-II diagnosis (X2 = 26.1, p<.001), depressive (p=0.05) and mixed states (p=0.011), higher comorbid anxiety levels and depressive affective temperament (p<.001); while clinical manifestations of geriatric EOBD is significantly associated with higher endocrinological (X2 = 7.815, p=.005) and metabolic comorbidity (X2 = 6.896, p=.009), a diagnosis of BD-I, manic episodes and hyperthymic (p=.001) affective temperaments. GDS and MSRS total scores were significantly higher in LOBD (respectively, p<.001 and p=.008).

Further studies with larger sample sizes and a control group should verify whether LOBD is a distinct psychopathological entity from EOBD and evaluate differences (if any) in terms of prognosis and treatment between EOBD and LOBD.

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