METHOD
Participants Participants
Sixty-three people with a DSM–IV diagnosis
of bipolar affective disorder (American
Psychiatric Association, 1994) were recruited
from out-patient clinics in secondary
and tertiary care in the north-east of
England; 54 had bipolar type I disorder, 9
had type II and 5 were rapid-cycling. Diagnoses
were confirmed using the Structured
Clinical Interview for DSM–IV (SCID; First
et al , 1997). Illness characteristics were
derived from retrospective life charts constructed
from patient interview and hospital
medical records (Leverich & Post,
1996). Patients were excluded if they were
taking corticosteroids or antihypertensive
medication, had any other current Axis I
diagnosis or had a neurological or medical
condition. A history of substance or alcoh