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The Clinical Global Impressions Scale Modified for Substance Use (CGI-SU) in patients with bipolar disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

M Bernardo ,
M Berk ,
S Dodd ,
K Lu ,
O Dean ,
I Schapkaitz  and
S Jeavons
M Bernardo
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
M Berk
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
S Dodd
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
K Lu
Affiliation:
Mental Health Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
O Dean
Affiliation:
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
I Schapkaitz
Affiliation:
Mental Health Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
S Jeavons
Affiliation:
Mental Health Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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Abstract

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Type
Abstracts from ‘Brainwaves’— The Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Annual Meeting 2006, 6–8 December, Sydney, Australia
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , December 2006 , pp. 278 - 279
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 Blackwell Munksgaard

Background:

Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness that is commonly associated with comorbid substance use. The development of the Clinical Global Impressions Scale Modified for Substance Use (CGI-SU) was to produce a simple, quick and easy-to-administer assessment tool. It was used in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in bipolar disorder. It was hypothesized that NAC would improve the outcomes in bipolar disorder and ultimately in comorbid substance use.

Methods:

The study focused on the CGI-SU, which is a newly developed assessment tool based on the original CGI for improvements. The new scale is intended for use in routine clinical practice to monitor improvements in a patient's comorbid substance use. It was administered to participants (n = 75) in the NAC in bipolar disorder trial. The CGI-SU scale investigates changes in six items, including ethanol, caffeine, nicotine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and two additional items depending on the participants' use of substances.

Results:

About 78.7% were using ethanol, 92% caffeine, 45.3% nicotine and 7.9% delta-9-tetrahydrocan-nabinol. These participants' use of substances permitted us to monitor the improvements of their substance use over the trial period.

Conclusions:

The simplicity and brevity of the CGI-SU make it a valuable outcome measure. It enables the monitoring of the improvements or lack of improvements made by patients with bipolar disorder and comorbid substance use in observational studies and clinical practice.