Lifestyle regularity and cyclothymic symptomatology

Reward sensitivity and social rhythms during goal-striving: An ecological momentary assessment investigation of bipolar spectrum disorders

BACKGROUND

The reward/circadian rhythm model of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) posits that when individuals with hypersensitive reward systems encounter reward-relevant events, they experience social and circadian rhythm disruption, leading to mood symptoms. The aim of the current study is to test an element of this theoretical model by investigating changes in social rhythms during and after an ecologically-valid reward-relevant event and evaluating whether the strength of these associations differ by trait reward sensitivity and BSD diagnostic group.

METHODS

Young adults from three groups (low BSD risk with moderate reward sensitivity [MRew], high BSD risk with high reward sensitivity [HRew], and high reward sensitivity with BSD [HRew+BSD]) completed a reward responsiveness task and 20-day ecological momentary assessment study structured around a participant-specific goal occurring on day 15. Social rhythm disruption (SRD) and social rhythm regularity (SRR) were assessed daily. Multilevel models examined whether reward sensitivity and group moderated associations between study phase (baseline [days 1-5], goal-striving [days 16-20], or outcome [days 16-20]) and social rhythms.

RESULTS

Participants experienced greater SRD after the goal-striving event during the outcome phase, compared to the baseline phase. The HRew+BSD group had significant decreases in SRR during the outcome phase, and this pattern differed significantly from the low-risk and high-risk groups. Greater task reward responsiveness also was associated with significant decreases in SRR during the outcome phase.

LIMITATIONS

This study did not test whether social rhythm irregularity was associated with subsequent mood change.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants exhibited social rhythm changes over the course of this ecologically valid goal-striving period, providing evidence for the interplay between reward-activating events and social rhythms. The HRew+BSD group showed a distinct pattern in which their social rhythms were more irregular after completing reward-relevant goal-striving that was not observed for the low-BSD risk or high-BSD risk groups. These findings provide additional support for Interpersonal and Social Rhythms Therapy.

Circadian, Reward, and Emotion Systems in Teens prospective longitudinal study: protocol overview of an integrative reward-circadian rhythm model of first onset of bipolar spectrum disorder in adolescence

BACKGROUND

Bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) are associated with a heightened sensitivity to rewards and elevated reward-related brain function in cortico-striatal circuitry. A separate literature documents social and circadian rhythm disruption in BSDs. Recently, integrated reward-circadian models of BSDs have been proposed. These models draw on work indicating that the two systems influence each other and interact to affect mood functioning. When dysregulated, reward and circadian system signaling may combine to form a positive feedback loop, whereby dysregulation in one system exacerbates dysregulation in the other. Project CREST (Circadian, Reward, and Emotion Systems in Teens) provides a first systematic test of reward-circadian dysregulation as a synergistic and dynamic vulnerability for first onset of BSD and increases in bipolar symptoms during adolescence.

METHODS

This NIMH-funded R01 study is a 3-year prospective, longitudinal investigation of approximately 320 community adolescents from the broader Philadelphia area, United States of America. Eligible participants must be 13-16 years old, fluent in English, and without a prior BSD or hypomanic episode. They are being selected along the entire dimension of self-reported reward responsiveness, with oversampling at the high tail of the dimension in order to increase the likelihood of BSD onsets. At Times 1-6, every 6 months, participants will complete assessments of reward-relevant and social rhythm disruption life events and self-report and diagnostic assessments of bipolar symptoms and episodes. Yearly, at Times 1, 3, and 5, participants also will complete self-report measures of circadian chronotype (morningness-eveningness) and social rhythm regularity, a salivary dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) procedure to assess circadian phase, self-report, behavioral, and neural (fMRI) assessments of monetary and social reward responsiveness, and a 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) period. During each EMA period, participants will complete continuous measures of sleep/wake and activity (actigraphy), a daily sleep diary, and three within-day (morning, afternoon, evening) measures of life events coded for reward-relevance and social rhythm disruption, monetary and social reward responsiveness, positive and negative affect, and hypo/manic and depressive symptoms. The fMRI scan will occur on the day before and the DLMO procedure will occur on the first evening of the 7-day EMA period.

DISCUSSION

This study is an innovative integration of research on multi-organ systems involved in reward and circadian signaling in understanding first onset of BSD in adolescence. It has the potential to facilitate novel pharmacological, neural, and behavioral interventions to treat, and ideally prevent, bipolar conditions.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of sleep and circadian rhythms disturbances in individuals at high-risk of developing or with early onset of bipolar disorders

Sleep and circadian rhythms disturbances (SCRD) in young people at high risk or with early onset of bipolar disorders (BD) are poorly understood. We systematically searched for studies of self, observer or objective estimates of SCRD in asymptomatic or symptomatic offspring of parents with BD (OSBD), individuals with presentations meeting recognized BD-at-risk criteria (BAR) and youth with recent onset of full-threshold BD (FT-BD). Of 76 studies eligible for systematic review, 35 (46%) were included in random effects meta-analyses. Pooled analyses of self-ratings related to circadian rhythms demonstrated greater preference for eveningness and more dysregulation of social rhythms in BAR and FT-BD groups; analyses of actigraphy provided some support for these findings. Meta-analysis of prospective studies showed that pre-existing SCRD were associated with a 40% increased risk of onset of BD, but heterogeneity in assessments was a significant concern. Overall, we identified longer total sleep time (Hedges g: 0.34; 95% confidence intervals:.1,.57), especially in OSBD and FT-BD and meta-regression analysis indicated the effect sizes was moderated by the proportion of any sample manifesting psychopathology or receiving psychotropic medications. This evolving field of research would benefit from greater attention to circadian rhythm as well as sleep quality measures.

The effect of sleep-wake intraindividial variability in digital cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia: A mediation analysis of a large-scale RCT

Study Objectives

Digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) is an effective treatment for insomnia. However, less is known about mediators of its benefits. The aim of the present study was to test if intraindividual variability in sleep (IIV) was reduced with dCBT-I, and whether any identified reduction was a mediator of dCBT-I on insomnia severity and psychological distress.

Methods

In a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), 1720 adults with insomnia (dCBT-I = 867; patient education about sleep = 853) completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and sleep diaries, at baseline and 9-week follow-up. Changes in IIV were analyzed using linear mixed modeling followed by mediation analyses of ISI, HADS, and IIV in singular sleep metrics and composite measures (behavioral indices (BI-Z) and sleep disturbance indices (SI-Z)).

Results

dCBT-I was associated with reduced IIV across all singular sleep metrics, with the largest between-group effect sizes observed for sleep onset latency (SOL). Reduced IIV for SOL and wake after sleep onset had the overall greatest singular mediating effect. For composite measures, SI-Z mediated change in ISI (b = −0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.04 to −0.52; 13.3%) and HADS (b = −0.40; 95% CI −0.73 to −0.18; 29.2%), while BI-Z mediated minor changes.

Conclusion

Reductions in IIV in key sleep metrics mediate significant changes in insomnia severity and especially psychological distress when using dCBT-I. These findings offer important evidence regarding the therapeutic action of dCBT-I and may guide the future development of this intervention.

Clinical trials

Name: Overcoming Insomnia: Impact on Sleep, Health and Work of Online CBT-I

Registration number: NCT02558647

URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02558647?cond=NCT02558647&draw=2&rank=1

Irregular sleep and event schedules are associated with poorer self-reported well-being in US college students

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Sleep regularity, in addition to duration and timing, is predictive of daily variations in well-being. One possible contributor to changes in these sleep dimensions are early morning scheduled events. We applied a composite metric-the Composite Phase Deviation (CPD)-to assess mistiming and irregularity of both sleep and event schedules to examine their relationship with self-reported well-being in US college students.

METHODS

Daily well-being, actigraphy, and timing of sleep and first scheduled events (academic/exercise/other) were collected for approximately 30 days from 223 US college students (37% females) between 2013 and 2016. Participants rated well-being daily upon awakening on five scales: Sleepy-Alert, Sad-Happy, Sluggish-Energetic, Sick-Healthy, and Stressed-Calm. A longitudinal growth model with time-varying covariates was used to assess relationships between sleep variables (i.e. CPDSleep, sleep duration, and midsleep time) and daily and average well-being. Cluster analysis was used to examine relationships between CPD for sleep vs. event schedules.

RESULTS

CPD for sleep was a significant predictor of average well-being (e.g. Stressed-Calm: b = -6.3, p < 0.01), whereas sleep duration was a significant predictor of daily well-being (Stressed-Calm, b = 1.0, p < 0.001). Although cluster analysis revealed no systematic relationship between CPD for sleep vs. event schedules (i.e. more mistimed/irregular events were not associated with more mistimed/irregular sleep), they interacted upon well-being: the poorest well-being was reported by students for whom both sleep and event schedules were mistimed and irregular.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep regularity and duration may be risk factors for lower well-being in college students. Stabilizing sleep and/or event schedules may help improve well-being.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02846077.

Is a SIMPLe smartphone application capable of improving biological rhythms in bipolar disorder?

BACKGROUND

Biological rhythms (BR) disturbance has been suggested as a potential mediator of mood episodes in Bipolar Disorder (BD). The Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) was designed as an assessment tool to evaluate BR domains comprehensively. In the context of a trial evaluating a smartphone application delivering personalized psychoeducational contents for BD (SIMPLe 1.0), the main aim of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of SIMPLe 1.0 in BR regulation using the BRIAN scale.

METHODS

51 remitted BD patients were asked to use the application for 3 months. Paired t-test analyses were employed to compare baseline and follow-up BRIAN´s total and domains scores. The sample was divided into completers and non-completers of the study to evaluate differences between groups regarding BRIAN scores using ANCOVA analyses.

RESULTS

The BRIAN's mean total score of the whole sample significantly decreased from baseline to post-intervention (35.89 (SD 6.64) vs. 31.18 (SD 6.33), t = 4.29, p = 0.001). At post-intervention, there was a significant difference between groups regarding the total BRIAN mean score (29.47 (SD 6.21) completers vs. 35.92 (SD 3.90) non-completers, t = 2.50, p = 0.02). This difference was maintained after conducting a one-way ANCOVA controlling for pre-intervention BRIAN scores, F (1, 46) = 10.545, p=0.002.

LIMITATIONS

A limited sample, pre-post measures, and a short study timeframe could have affected the results. Additional factors affecting BR, such as medication, could not be ruled out.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that there are potential positive effects of a psychoeducational smartphone application as an adjunctive to treatment as usual on BD patients' BR.

Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We review recent evidence for circadian rhythm dysregulation in bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs). We examine evidence for endogenous abnormalities in the biological clock and disruptions in the external entrainment of circadian rhythms in BSDs. We also address whether circadian dysregulation provides vulnerability to onset of BSD and evidence for a new integration of reward and circadian dysregulation in BSD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Relative circadian phase delay (e.g., later melatonin peak, evening chronotype) is associated with BSD, particularly in the depressive phase. More consistent evidence supports irregularity of social rhythms, sleep/wake and activity patterns, and disruptions of social rhythms by life events, as stable trait markers of BSD and potential vulnerabilities for BSD onset. Growing research supports an integrative reward/circadian model. Both endogenous abnormalities in the biological clock pacemaking function and disruptions in the external entrainment of circadian rhythms by physical and social cues are involved in BSDs. Circadian dysregulation may provide vulnerability to BSD onset.

Getting to wellness: The potential of the athletic model of marginal gains for the treatment of bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

People with bipolar disorder frequently have persistent symptoms, continued problems functioning and comorbid medical conditions. We propose applying the athletic coaching concept of marginal gains to help patients address these challenges to achieve wellness.

METHOD

We review the concept of marginal gains and potential interventions to improve long-term outcomes for bipolar patients.

RESULTS

Evidence exists to help bipolar patients with diet and exercise, gradual behavioral change, mobile applications and peer support.

CONCLUSION

Marginal gains, small and doable improvements across a broad range of areas, have great potential to improve the lives of people with bipolar disorder.

Beyond the mean: A systematic review on the correlates of daily intraindividual variability of sleep/wake patterns

Features of an individual's sleep/wake patterns across multiple days are governed by two dimensions, the mean and the intraindividual variability (IIV). The existing literature focuses on the means, while the nature and correlates of sleep/wake IIV are not well understood. A systematic search of records in five major databases from inception to November 2014 identified 53 peer-reviewed empirical publications that examined correlates of sleep/wake IIV in adults. Overall, this literature appeared unsystematic and post hoc, with under-developed theoretical frameworks and inconsistent methodologies. Correlates most consistently associated with greater IIV in one or more aspects of sleep/wake patterns were: younger age, non-White race/ethnicity, living alone, physical health conditions, higher body mass index, weight gain, bipolar and unipolar depression symptomatology, stress, and evening chronotype; symptoms of insomnia and poor sleep were associated with higher sleep/wake IIV, which was reduced following sleep interventions. The effects of experimentally reduced sleep/wake IIV on daytime functioning were inconclusive. In extending current understanding of sleep/wake patterns beyond the mean values, IIV should be incorporated as an additional dimension when sleep is examined across multiple days. Theoretical and methodological shortcomings in the existing literature, and opportunities for future research are discussed.

The development and course of bipolar spectrum disorders: an integrated reward and circadian rhythm dysregulation model

In this article, we present and review the evidence for two major biopsychosocial theories of the onset and course of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) that integrate behavioral, environmental, and neurobiological mechanisms: the reward hypersensitivity and the social/circadian rhythm disruption models. We describe the clinical features, spectrum, age of onset, and course of BSDs. We then discuss research designs relevant to demonstrating whether a hypothesized mechanism represents a correlate, vulnerability, or predictor of the course of BSDs, as well as important methodological issues. We next present the reward hypersensitivity model of BSD, followed by the social/circadian rhythm disruption model of BSD. For each model, we review evidence regarding whether the proposed underlying mechanism is associated with BSDs, provides vulnerability to the onset of BSDs, and predicts the course of BSDs. We then present a new integrated reward/circadian rhythm (RCR) dysregulation model of BSD and discuss how the RCR model explains the symptoms, onset, and course of BSDs. We end with recommendations for future research directions.

Telemonitoring with respect to mood disorders and information and communication technologies: overview and presentation of the PSYCHE project

This paper reviews what we know about prediction in relation to mood disorders from the perspective of clinical, biological, and physiological markers. It then also presents how information and communication technologies have developed in the field of mood disorders, from the first steps, for example, the transition from paper and pencil to more sophisticated methods, to the development of ecological momentary assessment methods and, more recently, wearable systems. These recent developments have paved the way for the use of integrative approaches capable of assessing multiple variables. The PSYCHE project stands for Personalised monitoring SYstems for Care in mental HEalth.

Biological rhythm disturbance in remitted bipolar patients

Background

Biological rhythm disturbance is common in bipolar patients and seems to affect the course and prognosis of the illness negatively. The main aim of the current study was to assess biological rhythms in remitted bipolar patients. We also assessed whether there was an association between clinical variables or functioning and biological rhythms in remitted bipolar participants.

Methods

The Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) was used to assess biological rhythm disturbance. It is an 18-item interviewer-administered instrument which allows us to investigate the main areas related to circadian rhythm disturbance (sleep/social, activities, and eating pattern) in bipolar disorder.

Results and discussion

Bipolar patients (n = 107) experienced greater biological rhythm alterations than the control group (n = 100) (BRIAN total scores 35.36 ± 7.11 vs. 32.48 ± 6.10, t = 6.912, p = 0.002, Cohen's d = 0.43, r = 0.21). In particular, patients were more impaired than the control group with regard to sleep/social (14.67 ± 4.14 vs. 13.49 ± 2.91, t = 10.61, p = 0.018, Cohen's d = 0.33, r = 0.16) and activity (8.49 ± 2.51 vs. 7.07 ± 2.13, t = 3.90, p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.61, r = 0.29) domains. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between biological rhythms with residual depressive symptoms (r = 0.459, p < 0.001) and functioning (r = 0.432, p < 0.001). These findings suggest a potential link between biological rhythms and the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. It highlights the importance of novel instruments (e.g., BRIAN) which allow us to assess biological rhythm disturbance in psychiatry. Finally, specific psychosocial interventions focused on lifestyle regularity may be considered as a supplemental treatment of bipolar illness episodes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2194-7511-1-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Parenting and the emotional and behavioural adjustment of young children in families with a parent with bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Children of parents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk of disturbance.

AIMS

This study examined relationships between parental mood, parenting, household organization and child emotional and behavioural adjustment in families with a parent with bipolar disorder to determine areas of specific need for parenting support.

METHOD

48 parents were recruited through advertisements via self-help organizations. The study was conducted online. Parental mood and activity was assessed by self-report questionnaires (CES-D, ISS, MDQ and SRM); parenting was assessed using the Parenting Scale (PS). The SDQ was used to assess the parent's view of their child's emotional and behavioural difficulties. The Confusion, Hubbub and Order Scale (CHAOS) assessed household organization.

RESULTS

Parents reported high levels of difficulties across all measures and scores were above clinical cut-offs on most scales. Children were reported as showing high levels of disturbance on the SDQ, including all sub-scales. Parenting and depression scores were significantly positively correlated, as were depression, parenting and CHAOS score. Regression analyses indicated that CHAOS was the strongest predictor of Total Difficulties and Emotional Symptoms on the SDQ.

CONCLUSIONS

Families are likely to benefit from interventions tailored to meet their parenting needs.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Cyclothymia: Cognitive Regulatory Control as a Mediator of Mood Change

Background: Regulatory control of cognition is implicated in the amplification of mood variability in cyclothymia. Aims: This study examined whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) directed at enhanced awareness and mood change could change global functioning, mood variability and regulatory control. Method: Using a prospective single case experimental design, mood and cognitive control ratings were recorded every 4 hours for 51 weeks by a patient diagnosed with cyclothymia, including a 5-week baseline, a 35-week (19 session) CBT intervention period and an 11-week follow-up period. Results: Findings indicated that the patient experienced reduced mood variability and greater regulatory control, became happier and less anxious but felt less energetic. Following CBT, high energy became negatively associated with positive mood, and this change was mediated by an increase in control over thoughts. Conclusions: The results suggest that CBT directed at cognitive control and mindfulness skills may help in the treatment of cyclothymia.

Social rhythms and vulnerability to bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Reduced social rhythmicity is a commonly reported feature of bipolar disorder which may extend to non-clinical populations at risk of bipolar disorder. The aim of the current study was to investigate social rhythms across three groups of participants; a clinical group of bipolar disorder outpatients, and two non-clinical groups with high- and low-vulnerability to bipolar disorder, respectively. It was expected that reduced social rhythmicity would differentiate the clinical group from the low-vulnerability group, but not the high vulnerability group.

METHODS

Non-clinical participants were selected on the basis of scores derived from the General Behaviour Inventory and allocated to groups of high (n=36) and low (n=36) trait vulnerability to bipolar disorder. The clinical group (n=15) were volunteers recruited from an outpatient clinic. Participants completed a self-report social rhythmicity measure daily for seven consecutive days.

RESULTS

One-way analysis of covariance (age) showed a significant overall effect for group, F (2,83)=4.67, p<.05. Post hoc comparisons revealed significant differences in social rhythms between the two nonclinical groups only.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design of the study limits the strength of conclusions that can be drawn.

CONCLUSIONS

The hypothesis was only partially supported. Consistent with expectations, the non-clinical group with higher vulnerability to bipolar disorder recorded lower social rhythmicity than the non-clinical group with lower vulnerability to bipolar disorder. The clinical group however, did not differ in social rhythmicity from the lower vulnerability group. The findings may have consequences for the way in which vulnerability to bipolar disorder is managed.