Sex difference in the progression of manic symptoms during acute hospitalization: A prospective pilot study

Lifetime and point prevalence of psychotic symptoms in adults with bipolar disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Psychotic symptoms, that we defined as delusions or hallucinations, are common in bipolar disorders (BD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesise the literature on both lifetime and point prevalence rates of psychotic symptoms across different BD subtypes, including both BD type I (BDI) and BD type II (BDII). We performed a systematic search of Medline, PsycINFO, Embase and Cochrane Library until 5 August 2021. Fifty-four studies (N = 23 461) of adults with BD met the predefined inclusion criteria for evaluating lifetime prevalence, and 24 studies (N = 6480) for evaluating point prevalence. Quality assessment and assessment of publication bias were performed. Prevalence rates were calculated using random effects meta-analysis, here expressed as percentages with a 95% confidence interval (CI). In studies of at least moderate quality, the pooled lifetime prevalence of psychotic symptoms in BDI was 63% (95% CI 57.5-68) and 22% (95% CI 14-33) in BDII. For BDI inpatients, the pooled lifetime prevalence was 71% (95% CI 61-79). There were no studies of community samples or inpatient BDII. The pooled point prevalence of psychotic symptoms in BDI was 54% (95 CI 41-67). The point prevalence was 57% (95% CI 47-66) in manic episodes and 13% (95% CI 7-23.5) in depressive episodes. There were not enough studies in BDII, BDI depression, mixed episodes and outpatient BDI. The pooled prevalence of psychotic symptoms in BDI may be higher than previously reported. More studies are needed for depressive and mixed episodes and community samples.Prospero registration number: CRD 42017052706.

Sex difference in the progression of manic symptoms during acute hospitalization: A prospective pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Acute mania is a serious medical condition that impacts men and women equally. Longtime presentation of manic symptoms is sex-dependent; however, little is known about acute symptoms of mania. The objective of this study is to track and compare acute manic symptoms for sex differences during inpatient hospitalization.

METHODS

All patients with bipolar mania admitted to a large university hospital between January and October 2017 were invited to participate in this longitudinal naturalistic follow-up study. Manic (YMRS), depressive (MADRS), and psychotic (PAS) symptoms were tracked daily from admission to discharge.

RESULTS

The total YMRS scores decreased significantly overtime (p < .0001) in both male (n = 34) and female (n = 23) patients (p = .7). However, male patients scored significantly higher in sexual interest (p = .01), disruptive and aggressive behavior (p = .01), and appearance (p < .001) while females had better insight into their illness (p = .01). Males and females received similar doses of lithium (p = .1), but males received significantly higher doses of valproic acid (VPA) in comparison with females (p = .003). However, plasma lithium and VPA concentrations at discharge were not significantly different between sexes.

CONCLUSION

Our results show sex differences in the progression of certain domains of manic symptoms in a cohort of 23 female and 34 male patients admitted to a large academic center in Turkey. Males, in this sample, exhibited more sexual interest, disruptive and aggressive behaviors, better grooming, and less insight compared to females. While these results are concordant with our preclinical findings and with anecdotal clinical observations, replication in larger samples is needed.