Table 1 Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with TRD-UP and BP disorder (N = 194)

Age (Years) (Mean ± SD)

46.5 ± 13.3

40.6 ± 14.3

t = 2.97_, p = 0.003

Ratio of Males: Females

41:59

37:57

χ² = 0.05, p = 0.816

Patients≤65 years of age

90 (90%)

91 (96%)

χ² = 3.59, p = 0.058

Marital status

41 (41%)

15 (16%)

χ² = 14.79, p < 0.001

Unemployed/Disability sick leave

74 (74%)

62 (66%)

χ² = 1.49, p = 0.221

Age of first major depressive episode (Mean ± SD)

37.7 ± 15.3

26.4 ± 9.8

t = 6.14, p < 0.001

Early onset of major depressive episodes(< 25)

29 (29%)

52 (55%)

χ² = 13.80, p < 0.001

Age of first psychiatric consultation (Mean ± SD)

35.9 ± 15.2

24.9 ± 10.7

t = 5.83, p < 0.001

Age of first psychiatric hospitalization (Mean ± SD)

40.1 ± 15.0

29.4 ± 11.7

t = 4.15, p < 0.001

Patients with recurrent depression (> 3)

39 (39%)

47 (50%)

χ² = 2.37, p = 0.123

Duration of illness-current episode (years) (Mean ± SD)

11.9 ± 11.5

15.4 ± 12.1

t = −2.08, p = 0.039

Patients with comorbid substance use

27 (27%)

32 (34%)

χ² = 1.14, p = 0.287

 History of Alcohol use

9 (9%)

16 (17%)

χ² = 2.77, p = 0.096

 History of Cannabis use

6 (6%)

19 (20%)

χ² = 8.71, p = 0.003

 History of Cocaine use

3 (3%)

3 (3%)

χ² = 0.006, p = 0.939

Number of Failed pharmacotherapies (Mean ± SD)

3.6 ± 2.6

5.3 ± 2.7

t = −4.31, p < 0.001

 Failed antidepressant trials (Mean ± SD)

2.25 ± 1.8

1.63 ± 1.4

t = 2.63, p = 0.009

 Failed SGA (Mean ± SD)

0.65 ± 0.7

1.68 ± 1.2

t = −7.17, p < 0.001

 Failed Mood stabilizers (Mean ± SD)

0.3 ± 0.6

1.3 ± 0.9

t = −8.55, p < 0.001

Patients currently having psychotherapy

41 (41%)

78 (83%)

χ² = 36.01, p < 0.001

 None

56 (56%)

15 (16%)

χ² = 33.48, p < 0.001

  > one

20 (20%)

60 (64%)

χ² = 38.41, p < 0.001

Patients with 1st degree relative with affective illness

51 (51%)

63 (67%)

χ² = 5.13, p = 0.023

Patients with Anxiety disorders

61 (61%)

22 (23%)

χ² = 27.97, p < 0.001

Patients with Panic disorders

19 (19%)

3 (3%)

χ² = 12.04, p < 0.001

Patients with Melancholic symptoms

74 (74%)

40 (42%)

χ² = 19.77, p < 0.001

Patients with Atypical symptoms

14 (14%)

25 (26%)

χ² = 4.78, p = 0.029

Patients with suicidal attempts

23 (23%)

42 (44%)

χ² = 10.22, p = 0.001

History of MDE with psychotic symptoms

27 (24%)

59 (63%)

χ² = 25.11, p < 0.001

Patients with Personality disorders (Axis II in DSM-IV)

44 (44%)

45 (48%)

χ² = 0.29, p = 0.589

 Cluster A

7 (7%)

1 (1%)

χ² = 4.31, p = 0.038

 Cluster B

19 (19%)

16(17%)

χ² = 0.128, p = 0.720

 Cluster C

25 (25%)

5 (5%)

χ² = 14.36, p < 0.001

 Autoimmune diseases

11 (11%)

2 (2%)

χ² = 6.101, p = 0.014

 Cardiovascular diseases

25 (25%)

18 (19%)

χ² = 0.962, p = 0.327

 Chronic pain disorders

25 (25%)

15 (16%)

χ² = 2.421, p = 0.120

 Neurological conditions

13 (13%)

5 (5%)

χ² = 3.396, p = 0.065

 Metabolic disorder

10 (10%)

15 (16%)

χ² = 1.532, p = 0.216