To describe 12 month outcomes of French patients enrolled in EMBLEM (European Mania in Bipolar Longitudinal Evaluation of Medication).

EMBLEM is a prospective, observational study on outcomes of manic/mixed episode. Adult patients were enrolled within the standard course of care if they initiated/changed oral medication for treatment of acute mania. All treatment decisions were at the discretion of the treating psychiatrist. 530 psychiatrists (126 French) enrolled 3459 eligible patients (771 French). 12 months results of the French cohort will be presented.

At baseline, mean age was 45.5 years (sd 13.6) and 59% were female. 68% were outpatients and 34% had a mixed episode. 76% of French patients were eligible for follow-up at 12 months. 80% improved (CGI-BP overall decrease >2) during follow-up whereas 47% patients never achieved recovery (two consecutive CGI-BP overall <2). 37% of patients presented with no medication at baseline. 41.6% were started on monotherapy and 58.4% on combination therapy; of those 54% and 28% respectively remained on their initial medication throughout the 12 months. 25% were treated with antidepressants in addition to their new oral medication, which increased to 35% at 12 months.

In this naturalistic study, less than half of French patients achieved recovery during 12 months follow-up. Antidepressant was frequent at baseline and use increased during follow-up. Twice as many patients remained on the same monotherapy as those on the same combination therapy