Life Events and the Onset of Mania

Abstract

Thirty manic in-patients were interviewed in hospital using the LEDS, and 24 were re-interviewed 6–12 months after discharge. Data for life events were analysed by: comparing events before onset of mania and before re-interview; and comparing these manic patients with patients in other studies which examined life events and the onset of schizophrenia and depression. No relationship was found between life events and the onset of mania in this preliminary study. Previous studies reporting a link between events and the onset of mania have serious methodological flaws, and definitive data have yet to be produced.