Bipolar affective disorder comorbid with alcohol dependence

Abstract

Bipolar disorder affects the patient's functional level and is characterized by alternating manic and depressive episodes. Alcohol consumption, which is common among these patients, can negatively influence the progression of the disease, causing significant clinical and therapeutic complications. The aim of the study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of bipolar affective disorder in alcohol dependence patients, highlighting the interactions between the two diseases.Scientific sources published in the last 5 years from PubMed, Google Scholar, Medscape, as well as from the collections of the Medical Scientific Library of USMF “Nicolae Testemitanu” were studied. Meta-analyses, clinical studies, and relevant review articles on the comorbidity of bipolar disorder with alcohol use were included.The literature highlights that alcohol abuse can be an aggravating factor in episodes of mania or depression, leading to a more severe course of the disease. Problematic alcohol consumption in patients with bipolar disorder has led to an increase in the number of relapses/recurrences; unstable remissions; worsening mental state; multiple side effects of medications; physical health problems; resistance to therapy, low adherence to treatment, and increased risk of suicide. In addition, the presence of alcohol dependence complicates the diagnostic process and reduces the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in this category of patients. Alcohol dependence influences the progression of bipolar disorder, contributing to clinical instability and reduced treatment effectiveness. Effective management requires early identification of comorbidity and the application of an interdisciplinary and individualized therapeutic approach.