Factors associated with delayed diagnosis from first psychiatric consultation and its relationship with 9-month symptom outcomes in bipolar disorder: a multicenter study in China
- 1Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Research and Development for Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, 5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100088 China
Abstract
Background: The diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) often faces delays in Chinese patients, affecting treatment outcomes. This study examines the factors associated with the interval from first psychiatric consultation to BD diagnosis and its association with 9-month depressive and manic symptom change.
Method: Data from a multicenter study in China was analyzed, involving 520 BD patients (399 type I BD [BD-I] and 121 type II BD [BD-II]) from seven medical institutions. We assessed sociodemographic and clinical features contributing to delayed BD diagnosis and the consequences of long DUBD on manic and depressive symptoms over a 9-month follow-up period.
Results: The median DUBD was 0.78 years; 0.51 years for BD-I and 1.59 years for BD-II. Younger age at first psychiatric consultation and older age at the first visit for the BD event were associated with long DUBD in both BD-I and BD-II. In BD-I, higher education level and manic/hypomanic/mixed polarity of first episode were associated with lower odds of long DUBD. Over the 9-month follow-up, longer DUBD was associated with less improvement in depressive symptoms among patients with BD-II.
Conclusion: DUBD and its associated factors differed between BD subtypes. Longer DUBD was associated with less improvement in depressive symptoms among patients with BD-II over 9 months.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08494-z.
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BibTeX
@article{qiao2026factors,
title = {{Factors associated with delayed diagnosis from first psychiatric consultation and its relationship with 9-month symptom outcomes in bipolar disorder: a multicenter study in China}},
author = {Yu Qiao and Xue-quan Zhu and Shuang Liu and Chen Hu and Yuan Feng and Jin-jie Xu and Gang Wang and Ling Zhang},
journal = {BMC Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12888-026-08494-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08494-z},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Factors associated with delayed diagnosis from first psychiatric consultation and its relationship with 9-month symptom outcomes in bipolar disorder: a multicenter study in China
AU - Yu Qiao
AU - Xue-quan Zhu
AU - Shuang Liu
AU - Chen Hu
AU - Yuan Feng
AU - Jin-jie Xu
AU - Gang Wang
AU - Ling Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/11
JO - BMC Psychiatry
DO - 10.1186/s12888-026-08494-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08494-z
AB - Background: The diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) often faces delays in Chinese patients, affecting treatment outcomes. This study examines the factors associated with the interval from first psychiatric consultation to BD diagnosis and its association with 9-month depressive and manic symptom change. Method: Data from a multicenter study in China was analyzed, involving 520 BD patients (399 type I BD [BD-I] and 121 type II BD [BD-II]) from seven medical institutions. We assessed sociodemographic and clinical features contributing to delayed BD diagnosis and the consequences of long DUBD on manic and depressive symptoms over a 9-month follow-up period. Results: The median DUBD was 0.78 years; 0.51 years for BD-I and 1.59 years for BD-II. Younger age at first psychiatric consultation and older age at the first visit for the BD event were associated with long DUBD in both BD-I and BD-II. In BD-I, higher education level and manic/hypomanic/mixed polarity of first episode were associated with lower odds of long DUBD. Over the 9-month follow-up, longer DUBD was associated with less improvement in depressive symptoms among patients with BD-II. Conclusion: DUBD and its associated factors differed between BD subtypes. Longer DUBD was associated with less improvement in depressive symptoms among patients with BD-II over 9 months. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08494-z.
SN - 1471-244X
ER -