A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that alcohol use is linked to mood instability, including depressive and manic symptoms, and heightened suicide risk in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). The research, conducted by Dr. Sarah H. Sperry and colleagues from the University of Michigan, emphasizes the importance of monitoring alcohol consumption in managing BD.

The study, part of the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder, analyzed data from 584 participants, with 76.2 percent diagnosed with BD type I and 23.8 percent with BD type II. Over a median follow-up period of nine years, the researchers investigated the relationships between alcohol use and various factors, including mood, anxiety, and functioning.

Findings indicate that problematic alcohol use correlates with heightened depressive and manic or hypomanic symptoms, as well as reduced workplace functioning, over the following six months. However, the study found that increased depressive and manic symptoms did not lead to greater subsequent alcohol use. The associations were more significant in individuals with BD type II compared to those with BD type I. Notably, alcohol use did not show a link with anxiety over time.

Dr. Sperry and her team suggest that these findings underscore the need for a dimensional and longitudinal approach to assessing and managing alcohol use in individuals with BD. They advocate for integrating alcohol use monitoring into both research and standard treatment protocols for bipolar disorder to improve overall patient outcomes.

This study highlights the critical role of addressing alcohol use in the comprehensive treatment of bipolar disorder, potentially enhancing mood stability and functional outcomes for affected individuals while reducing the risk of suicide.