Table 1: Essential demographic and clinical features of the subjects included in the study.

Study subjects (n=37) Cases
n=33(89.19% of the total)		 Controls
n=4 (10.81% of the total)		 χ2(df), t,
or U(Z score)		 p
Demographics
Age in years, median 43 52 166.5, Z=-.01 .915
Sex F/M, n(%) 2(50%)/2(50%) 15(45%)/18(55%) .30(1) .863
BD-I, n(% - subset) 33(100%) 4(100%) - -
BD-II, n(% - subset) 0 0 - -
BD-NOS, n(% - subset) 0 0 - -
*Phase-I, length in years, median 8.5 3 24.5, Z=-2.048 .041
*Phase-II, length in years, median 4 6 41, Z=-1.234 .217
*Phase-III, length in years, median 5.5 2 8, Z=-2.927 .003
Pace of lithium tapering-off, in days, median 1 7 22, Z=-2.187 .029
*Phase-IV, length in years among cases, median 1.15 - - -
Age at onset of BD, self-report, in years, median 13 16.5 31, Z=-1.681 .093
Polarity of index episode, n(% - subset) Mania or hypomania, n=4(100%) Depression, n=6(18.2%); mania/hypomania, n=21(63.6%), Mixed= (18.2%) 2.153(2) .341
#Predominant polarity, n(% - subset) Manic, n=2(50%); depressive, n=2(50%) Manic, n=17(51%); depressive, n=13(39%) n=3(10%) undetermined .064(1) .801
Reason for loss of maintenance (clinician’ judgment whenever not otherwise ascertained), n(% - subset) Poor adherence, n=4(100%) Poor adherence, n=20(61%) Psoriasis, n=1(3%); other/undetermined, n=12(36%) 2.429(2) 0.297
Lifetime psychiatric hospitalization (“yes”/”no”), n(% - subset) 1(25%) 5(15%) .255(1) .614
Lifetime PD, n(% - subset) 0 3(9.13%) .396(1) .529
Lifetime GAD, n(% - subset) 1(25%) 6(18.2%) .108(1) .742
Lifetime SP, n(% - subset) 0 1(3%) .125(1) .724
Lifetime OCD, n(% - subset) 1(25%) 4(12%) .506(1) .477
Lifetime SUD, n(% - subset) 0 7(21%) 1.046(1) .306
Lifetime AN, n(% - subset) 0 1(3%) .125(1) .724
Lifetime BN, n(% - subset) 0 2(6%) .256(1) .613
Lifetime BED, n(% - subset) 0 1(3%) .125(1) .724
Lifetime ADHD, n(% - subset) 1(25%) 0 8.479(1) .004
Lifetime Rapid-cycling course, n(% - subset) 1(25%) 3(9%) .936(1) .333
Lifetime Seasonal course, n(% - subset) 1(25%) 2(6%) 1.718(1) .190
Lifetime Post-partum depression, n(% - subset) 0 3(9%) .396(1) .529
Lifetime history of suicidal ideation and/or attempt(s), n(% - subset) 2(50%) 12(36.4%) .282(1) .529
Valproate and/or carbamazepine (adjunctive for phases-II and -IV) treatment during Phase-I, -II, -III or -IV respectively, n(% - subset) 1(25%)/3(75%)/3(75%)/3(75%) 4(12%)/22(67%)/26(79%)/25(76%) .506(1)/.113(1)/.030(1)/.001(1) .477/.737/.862/.973
SGA(s) (adjunctive for phases-II and -IV) treatment during Phase-I, -II, -III or -IV respectively, n(% - subset) 0/0/1(25%)/3(75%) 2(6%)/2(6%)/2(6%)/18(55%) .256(1)/.256(1)/1.718(1)/.608(1) .613/.613/.190/.435
Antidepressant(s) (adjunctive for phases-II and -IV) treatment during Phase-I, -II, -III or -IV respectively, n(% - subset) 0/0/1(25%)/2(50%) 1(3%)/9(27%)/11(33%)/6(18%) .125(1)/1.442(1)/.113(1)/2.131(1) .724/.230/.737/.144
BDZ (adjunctive for phases-II and -IV) treatment during Phase-I, -II, -III or -IV respectively, n(% - subset) 0/1(25%)/3(75%)/4(100%) 11(33%)/10(30%)/12(36%)/19(58%) 1.897(1)/.048(1)/2.209(1)/2.730(1) .168/.827/.137/.276
Adjunctive CBT during phases-III n(% - subset) 1(25%) 3(9%) .936(1) .333
§ Lifetime ECT n(% - subset) 0 0 - -

Legend: PD=Panic Disorder; GAD=Generalized Anxiety Disorder; SP=Specific Phobias; OCD=Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; ICD=Impulse Control Disorder; SUD=Substance Use Disorder; AN=Anorexia Nervosa; BN=Bulimia Nervosa; BED=Binge Eating Disorder; ADHD=Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; NOS=Not otherwise specified; SGA=Second Generation Antipsychotics; ECT=Electroconvulsive Therapy; CBT=Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Bold p-values indicate significant difference.
* Please refer to Appendix A for additional coding.
#” Predominant polarity” was operationally defined based on Colom F. et al., 2006 [88]. Briefly, “at least 2‎/3 of lifetime mood episodes overall experienced as a given mood polarity” would configure either “depressive” or “manic” predominance of overall mood episodes.
§ Cases exposed to lifetime ECT may have gone unrepresented in the present convenience sample since the otherwise clinically relevant practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy is still relatively infrequently accepted in Italy due to stigma issues [89].