Bipolar disorder in women: reproductive events and treatment considerations

Risk factors for relapse or recurrence in women with bipolar disorder and recurrent major depressive disorder in the perinatal period: a systematic review

It is well known that the perinatal period supposes a considerable risk of relapse for women with bipolar disorder (BD) and recurrent major depressive disorder (rMDD), with the consequences that this entails. Therefore, the authors sought to provide a critical appraisal of the evidence related to specific risk factors for this population with the aim of improving the prevention of relapses during pregnancy and postpartum. The authors conducted a systematic review assessing 18 original studies that provided data on risk factors for relapse or recurrence of BD and/or rMDD in the perinatal period (pregnancy and postpartum). Recurrences of BD and rMDD are more frequent in the postpartum period than in pregnancy, with the first 4-6 weeks postpartum being especially complicated. In addition, women with BD type I are at higher risk than those with BD type II and rMDD, and the most frequent presentation of perinatal episodes of both disorders is a major depressive episode. Other risk factors consistently repeated were early age of onset of illnesses, severity criteria, primiparity, abrupt discontinuation of treatment, and personal or family history of perinatal affective episodes. This review shows that there are common and different risk factors according to the type of disorder and to perinatal timing (pregnancy or postpartum) that should be known for an adequate prevention of relapses.

Female reproductive factors are associated with the risk of newly diagnosed bipolar disorder in postmenopausal women

Changes in the levels of female sex hormones are associated with mood disorders in middle-aged women. This study investigated the association between female reproductive factors and the development of newly diagnosed bipolar disorder (BD). We used a South Korean nationwide medical records database. Postmenopausal women aged 40 or older who underwent health examinations were identified and followed for the occurrence of BD. We identified female reproductive factors including the age at menarche and menopause, parity, history of breastfeeding, oral contraceptive (OC) use, and hormone therapy (HT), and investigated their association with the occurrence of newly diagnosed BD. During an average of 8.32 years (SD 0.83) of follow-up, the incidence of BD was 0.50 per 1000 person-years in postmenopausal women. Compared to women with menopause at an age of 40 years or younger, those with menopause at an age of 45 years or older showed decreased risks of BD. Compared to women who had never breastfed, those who had breastfed for more than 12 months showed a decreased risk of BD. Compared to women who never received HT, those who received HT showed an increased risk of BD in a time-dependent manner. Among postmenopausal women, later menopause and breastfeeding for more than one year were associated with a decreased risk of BD occurrence, and receiving HT was associated with an increased risk.

Impact of menstrual cycle events on bipolar disorder course: a narrative review of current evidence

Several lines of research suggest that reproductive-related hormonal events may affect the course of bipolar disorder in some women. However, data on associations between bipolar disorder and menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause are mixed. This article reviews the literature on the potential effects of menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause on bipolar disorder.A narrative review of published articles on bipolar disorder and menstrual cycle events was conducted. The primary outcome assessed was the impact of menarche, menstrual cycle and menopause on the course of bipolar illness. Databases searched were PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, PsycINFO, Medline, and Cochrane Libraries from inception to August 2021.Twenty-two studies were identified and included in the narrative synthesis. Research suggested that a subset of women with bipolar disorder are vulnerable to the impact of menstrual cycle events. Menarche seems to be associated with age at onset of bipolar illness especially in case of bipolar disorder type I and the specific age at menarche may predict some clinical features of the disorder. Menstrual cycle likely affects the course of bipolar disorder but the pattern of mood variability is not clear. Menopause appears to be not only a period of vulnerability to mood alteration, especially depressive episodes, and impairment of quality of life, but also a potential trigger of bipolar illness onset.The impact of menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause on bipolar disorder is largely understudied. Preliminary evidence suggests that a subset of women with bipolar disorder may have their mood shifts affected by menstrual cycle events, with different patterns depending on the type of bipolar disorder also. Further researches are needed to deep the impact of menarche, menstrual cycle, and menopause on bipolar illness.

Perimenopause and First-Onset Mood Disorders: A Closer Look

Perimenopause is often a time of social, emotional, and physical change. Various factors contribute to the development of mood disorders during this time. There is a known association among women with previous history of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder and relapse during the menopausal transition. First-onset mood disorders during this time have been less studied. A literature review in PsycInfo Ovid of records pertaining to first-onset mood disorders during perimenopause showed that this multifactorial process involves hormonal fluctuations, with estrogen being a key player. In addition, vasomotor symptoms, previous negative life events, and socioeconomic status were found to contribute to first-onset mood disorders during perimenopause. Treatment options include established medication regimens for psychiatric conditions; however, hormone therapy also has proven beneficial for this patient population. Further research, particularly on bipolar disorder, is needed to develop a clear association between perimenopause and first-onset mood disorders.

"Extreme emotions" - the impact of reproductive life events for women living with bipolar disorder

Little is known about how women with bipolar disorder construct and experience reproductive life events across the lifespan. We analyzed qualitative data from 29 semi-structured interviews with women aged 22-63 years (reproductive, menopause and post-menopause phases) using thematic analysis through a social constructionist framework. Themes of "Losing a sense of self-agency and self-worth" contained accounts of feeling out of control because of both bipolar disorder and reproductive life events. "Building a sense of personal autonomy and positive self-image" included accounts of acceptance and management of mood change over time, particularly for women in menopause and post-menopause life phases.

Lithium and valproate serum level fluctuations within the menstrual cycle: a systematic review

Some women affected by mood disorders experience mood instability during the premenstrual phase. Assuming that fluctuations in drug serum levels may contribute to the worsening of mood symptoms, we carried out a systematic review of available studies that investigated changes in lithium and valproate levels in relation to menstrual phases. We selected five studies; four of which assessed menstrual fluctuations in lithium serum levels and one in valproate levels. Study samples included women in their fertile age affected by bipolar disorder, epilepsy as well as healthy ones. Preliminary results showed a close relationship between cyclic premenstrual exacerbation of affective symptoms and a significant decrease in lithium levels during the luteal phase, despite stable oral doses, in bipolar women. In healthy women, lithium levels were influenced by neither menstrual cycle phases nor oral contraceptives use. Valproate serum levels in epileptic women showed a small, nonsignificant decline during the mid-luteal phase. Pharmacokinetic sex differences in adsorption, volume distribution, hepatic metabolism, and renal excretion of mood stabilizers have been supposed to partly explain such menstrual serum level fluctuations. A better understanding in this field could help to counteract the distress related to premenstrual phase, improving therapeutic management of mood disorders in women.

Unified neural structured model: A new diagnostic tool in primary care psychiatry

Overlap of multiple mental disorders in each psychiatric patient has been emphasized and the style of assessment and intervention in each patient has been gradually changed. A new practical structured model that can comprehensively explain and assess the major mental disorders integratedly has been desired. In this report, the relationships between each of the major mental disorders and each neuropsychiatric component like personality, reward system, or reinforcement learning have been comprehensively reviewed to construct a new integrated structured model for assessing the overlapped mental conditions in primary care psychiatry. This new structured model contains the following three loops: "input-output-feedback loop" (external/environmental loop), "reward-learning loop" (learning loop), and "mood-reward sensitivity loop" (mood loop), which are connected by the functions of prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. With this new concept, overlapped mental conditions in each psychiatric patient could be theoretically much simply and logically explained. In conclusion, with the proposed psychiatric structured model, we can simply explain and understand the overlapped mental disorders in each patient. Inventing and developing such basic psychiatric structured model would offer us new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to realize personalized medicine, especially in the field of primary care psychiatry.

Bipolar II disorder as a risk factor for postpartum depression

OBJECTIVES

There is evidence for a bipolar diathesis in postpartum depression (PPD) and women presenting with a first PPD frequently receive a diagnosis of bipolar type II disorder (BD-II). However formal evidence for an association between BD-II and PPD has not yet been reported. In the present study we tested a potential association between BD-II and PPD.

METHODS

Parous women with a diagnosis of bipolar type I disorder (BD-I) (n=93), BD-II (n=36) or major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=444) were considered in the present study. All women were retrospectively evaluated for history of PPD (DSM-IV criteria) and other clinical and socio-demographic features.

RESULTS

Women with a history of PDD (n=139, 24%) were younger, younger at illness onset and had more family history for BD compared to women without history of PPD (n=436, 75.9%). Half of BD-II women reported PPD (50%), compared to less than one-third of BD-I and MDD women (respectively 27.5% and 21.6%) (p=0.004).

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include the retrospective assessment of PPD and no available data about the timing of postpartum episodes, illness onset or psychiatric care before or after childbirth, and the number of postpartum episodes.

CONCLUSIONS

BD-II may confer a remarkable risk for PPD, which may be even higher than that of women affected by BD-I disorder. Careful monitoring of BD-II women during the pregnancy and postpartum period, as well as assessment of bipolar features in women with a PPD without a current diagnosis of BD are recommended.

Recurrence rates of bipolar disorder during the postpartum period: a study on 276 medication-free Italian women

The postpartum period is considered a time of heightened vulnerability to bipolar disorder. The primary goal of this study was to examine the frequency and the polarity of postpartum episodes in a clinical sample of women with bipolar disorder who were medication-free during their pregnancies. In addition, we sought to examine whether there are differences in terms of clinical features of bipolar disorder between women with and without postpartum episodes. Lastly, we analyzed the potential relationship between polarity of the postpartum episodes and clinical features of bipolar disorder. The presence/absence of postpartum episodes and their characteristics were obtained from medical records of 276 women with bipolar disorder who were medication-free during their pregnancies. Two hundred seven women (75.0 %) had a history of one or more postpartum mood episodes: depressive (79.7 %), (hypo)manic (16.4 %), or mixed episodes (3.9 %). Psychotic symptoms during postpartum episodes were associated with depression in 37 (22.4 %) patients, with mania in 19 (67.8 %) patients, and with mixed episodes in 7 (87.5 %) patients. Postpartum manic and mixed episodes were significantly associated with type I disorder and with psychotic features. Our findings indicate high risk of clinically ascertained mood episodes during postpartum period in bipolar women who are not treated during pregnancy.

Bipolar Disorder in the Postpartum Period: Management Strategies and Future Directions

Bipolar I and II disorder are chronic and severe psychiatric illnesses that affect many women. Furthermore, women are at increased risk for mood episodes during the postpartum period compared with non-postpartum periods. Unfortunately, identification of clinically significant depressive or (hypo)manic episodes can be challenging. Delays in detection, as well as misdiagnosis, put women at risk of many negative consequences, such as symptom exacerbation and treatment refractoriness. Early and accurate detection of bipolar I or II disorder in the postpartum period is critical to improve prognosis. At this time, limited recommendations can be made due to a paucity of research. Further research on postpartum bipolar I or II disorder focusing on its identification, consequences and treatment is urgently needed to allow for empirically informed clinical decision-making.

Effects of the menstrual cycle on bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVES

Several lines of research suggest that reproductive events may affect the course of bipolar disorder (BD) in some women. With respect to the menstrual cycle, the focus has been on dysphoric symptoms [e.g., premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)], and the exacerbation of depression, in the premenstrual phase. This article reviews the literature on the potential effects of the menstrual cycle on BD.

METHODS

A systematic search for published case reports and research studies available through March, 2013 was conducted. Several combinations of search terms were entered into PubMed and PsycInfo.

RESULTS

Overall, 25 case reports, ten retrospective studies, and 11 prospective studies were identified. The majority (64%) of case reports involved hypomanic or manic episodes in the premenstrual phase. Retrospective results suggest that 25-77% and 15-27% of women with BD meet the criteria for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and PMDD, respectively. Menstrual cycle-related mood changes were reported by 64-68% of women with BD in retrospective studies, and were displayed by 44-65% of women in prospective studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Although research has focused on the premenstrual phase to the neglect of the periovulatory phase, it appears that a subgroup of women with BD, possibly those with hormonal sensitivity, experience menstrual cycle effects on depressive, hypomanic, and manic episodes. These phase-episode effects appear to be heterogeneous and may have implications for treatment. Whether they might best be described using course specifiers, similar to postpartum onset and rapid cycling, or as diagnostic entities, like PMDD, requires further study.

Sex differences in rates of obesity in bipolar disorder: postulated mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

The increased standardized mortality ratio (SMR) from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with bipolar disorder (BD), relative to men with BD and individuals of both sexes in the general population, provides the impetus to identify factors that contribute to the differential association of obesity with BD in women.

METHODS

We conducted a selective PubMed search of English-language articles published from September 1990 to June 2012. The key search terms were bipolar disorder and metabolic syndrome cross-referenced with gender, sex, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The search was supplemented with a manual review of relevant article reference lists. Articles selected for review were based on author consensus, the use of a standardized experimental procedure, validated assessment measures, and overall manuscript quality.

RESULTS

It is amply documented that adults with BD are affected by the metabolic syndrome at a rate higher than the general population. Women with BD, when compared to men with BD and individuals of both sexes in the general population, have higher rates of abdominal obesity. The course and clinical presentation of BD manifest differently in men and women, wherein women exhibit a higher frequency of depression predominant illness, a later onset of BD, more seasonal variations in mood disturbance, and increased susceptibility to relapse. Phenomenological factors can be expanded to include differences in patterns of comorbidity between the sexes among patients with BD. Other factors that contribute to the increased risk for abdominal obesity in female individuals with BD include reproductive life events, anamnestic (e.g., sexual and/or physical abuse), lifestyle, and iatrogenic.

CONCLUSIONS

A confluence of factors broadly categorized as broad- and sex-based subserve the increased rate of obesity in women with BD. It remains a testable hypothesis that the increased abdominal obesity in women with BD mediates the increased SMR from CVD. A clinical recommendation that emerges from this review is amplified attention to the appearance, or history, of factors that conspire to increase obesity in female patients with BD.

Menarche, puberty and psychiatric disorders

OBJECTIVE

Puberty and adolescence are important periods about mental health, particularly for women. Relationship between age of menarche, psychiatric complaints during adolescence and family stories of psychiatric disorders are investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study is conducted with 61 patients with schizophrenia, 35 patients with bipolar affective disorder, 40 patients with depressive disorder and 60 healthy control subjects. All subjects were evaluated with SCID-I and questionnaire fit for the aim of the study was fulfilled.

RESULTS

Bipolar affective disorder had a stronger relationship with menarche, psychiatric problems during adolescence were related with early onset of illness in schizophrenia and bipolar groups. Family story of psychiatric illness was related with psychological problems during puberty in schizophrenia group.

CONCLUSION

This study underlies the puberty and adolescence period for psychiatric illness. An integrative clinical approach is suggested while examining the psychiatric illness at the basis of engaged roles of hormonal effects of menarche, social effect of puberty psychiatric complaints and genetical and psychosocial burden of family story of illness.

Bipolar Disorder Differences between Genders: Special Considerations for Women

The objective of this article is to review clinical differences between men and women with bipolar disorder. The secondary objective is to analyze the differences in adherence to medication between genders. Men usually present with manic episodes and have comorbid drug abuse, while women usually present with major depressive episode, the onset is often later, comorbidity of physical pathology is common and adherence to medication is greater than in men. In women who have an earlier onset of the illness and are single, the risk of nonadherence is higher than in other groups of women. There are two time periods that are very important in women: pregnancy and postpartum. Both are critical periods and a relapse or recurrence of symptoms at either stage can have serious consequences for the woman and/or her baby. In addition, the effect of medication on the fetus is unclear. In conclusion, there is a clear need for more studies on gender differences in bipolar disorder and how to improve adherence to treatment. Moreover, a better understanding of how to treat women with bipolar disorder during pregnancy and lactation will undoubtedly lead to improved outcomes for both the mother and her child.

Treatment-induced manic switch in the course of unipolar depression can predict bipolarity: cluster analysis based evidence

BACKGROUND

Antidepressants are known to induce manic switch in patients with depression. Treatment-induced mania is not considered as bipolar disorder in DSM IV. The aim of this study was to assess whether clinical characteristics of patients with unipolar depression with a history of treatment-induced mania were similar to those of patients with bipolar disorder.

METHOD

The study included 217 consecutive patients with DSM-IV mood disorders, diagnosed as: bipolar disorder type I (BP-I, n = 58) or type II (BP-II, n = 18) whose first episodes were depression, recurrent (unipolar) major depressive disorder with a history of antidepressant treatment-induced mania (switchers = sUD; n = 61) and without such an event (rUD; n = 80). First, the groups were compared with regard to clinical features and course specifiers using variance and chi-square analysis. Variables that differed significantly between the four groups were included in two-step cluster analysis to explore naturally occurring subgroups in all diagnoses. Subsequently, the relationship between the naturally occurring clusters and pre-defined DSM-IV diagnoses were investigated.

RESULTS

Two-step cluster analysis revealed two different naturally occurring groups. Higher severity of depressive episodes, with higher rate of melancholic features, higher number of hospitalization and suicide attempts were represented in one cluster where switchers (77%), bipolar I (94.8%) and II (83.3%) patients clustered together.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study confirm that treatment-induced mania is a clinical phenomenon that belongs within the bipolar spectrum rather than a coincidental treatment complication, and that it should be placed under "bipolar disorders" in future classification systems.

LIMITATIONS

The study includes the limitations of any naturalistic retrospective study.

Evolutionary origin of bipolar disorder-revised: EOBD-R

The hypothesis of the evolutionary origin of bipolar disorder (EOBD) synthesized ideas about the biological clock and seasonal shifts in mood (Rosenthal, Wehr) with theorizing that bipolar disorder descends from a pyknic (compact, cold-adapted) group (Kretchmer). The hypothesis suggested that bipolar behaviors evolved in the northern temperate zone as highly derived adaptations to the selective pressures of severe climatic conditions during the Pleistocene. Given evidence of Neandertal contributions to the human genome, the hypothesis is extended (EOBD-R) to suggest Neandertal as the ancestral source for bipolar vulnerability genes (susceptibility alleles). The EOBD-R hypothesis explains and integrates existing observations: bipolar disorder has the epidemiology of an adaptation; it is correlated with a cold-adapted build, and its moods vary according to light and season. Since the hypothesis was first published, data consistent with it have continued to appear. Individuals with seasonal affective disorder, which is related to bipolar disorder, have been shown to manifest a biological signal of season change similar to that found in hibernating animals. The involvement of the circadian gene network in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder has been confirmed. Because selective pressures during the Pleistocene would have been greatest for women of reproductive age, they are expected to manifest winter depression more than males or younger females, which is the case. (This sex difference is also found in hibernating mammals.) Because it is hypothesized that the evolution of bipolar disorder took place in the northern temperate zone during the Pleistocene, it is not expected that individuals of African descent, lacking Neandertal genes, will manifest circular bipolar I disorder, and in fact, the incidence of bipolar disorder among black individuals is less than among whites. A definitive test of the hypothesis is proposed: It is predicted that the bipolar and Neandertal genomes will be more similar than the modern human and Neandertal genomes, and the modern human and San and Yoruba genomes will be more similar than the bipolar and San and Yoruba genomes. Failure to confirm these predictions will falsify the EOBD-R hypothesis. The EOBD-R hypothesis has important implications in the search for bipolar vulnerability genes and our understanding of ourselves and our Neandertal ancestor. At a practical level, confirmation of the EOBD-R hypothesis will boost interest and research in the prevention and management of bipolar symptoms by manipulation of ambient light.

The management of bipolar disorder in the perinatal period and risk factors for postpartum relapse

Aims

The perinatal period is a time of high risk of relapse for women with a history of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). We describe the pregnancy management of women with BPAD and identify risk factors for postpartum relapse.

Methods

The case records of 78 women with BPAD referred to perinatal mental health services before conception, during pregnancy or the postpartum period, between 1998 and 2009 in Birmingham UK, were screened. In women who were managed during pregnancy, those who relapsed in the postpartum were compared with those who remained well.

Results

Forty-seven percent of women with BPAD referred in pregnancy suffered postpartum relapse. Women who were unwell at referral, younger, with unplanned pregnancy, previous perinatal episodes or a family history of BPAD were more likely to suffer postpartum illness.

Conclusion

Identifying risk factors for postpartum relapse enables us to individualise the estimation of a woman's risk and modify care plans accordingly. Duration of wellness prior to pregnancy is not associated with a lower risk of postpartum illness and so it is imperative that all women with BPAD receive referral in pregnancy.

[Treatment of bipolar disorder during pregnancy and in the postpartum period]

BACKGROUND

Pharmacological treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar disorders during pregnancy and in the postpartum period imply complicated clinical assessments.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This article is based on a non-systematic search in PubMed and the authors' clinical experience.

RESULTS

If a woman is already using a prophylactic drug at the time of pregnancy, she can in general continue to do so during pregnancy, with the exception of valproate. If the disorder starts during pregnancy; lithium, lamotrigine or second generation antipsychotic drugs are suitable alternatives. In general, drugs used during pregnancy can also be used in the postpartum period, although some require special precautions if the mother wishes to breast-feed. If treatment is initiated after delivery, the mother's wish to breast-feed should be taken into consideration when choosing a drug.

INTERPRETATION

Although existing studies have weaknesses, there is sufficient evidence to give qualified advice regarding choice of medication for bipolar disorder during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

Screening for bipolar disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period

Bipolar disorder is a significant mental health problem among perinatal women; however, little attention has been devoted to methods of screening for bipolar disorder during this phase of women's life cycle. There is a need for reliable and valid screening instruments for perinatal women. This paper presents a review of 11 self-report measures used to screen bipolar disorder in the general population and discusses their applicability to screening among perinatal women. Published psychometric data, including reliability, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of each self-report instrument, is presented and critiqued. We make recommendations for screening in clinical practice and highlights priorities for future research. The need for more research in this area is emphasized.

Antipsychotic therapy during early and late pregnancy. A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Both first- (FGAs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are routinely used in treating severe and persistent psychiatric disorders. However, until now no articles have analyzed systematically the safety of both classes of psychotropics during pregnancy. DATA SOURCES AND SEARCH STRATEGY: Medical literature information published in any language since 1950 was identified using MEDLINE/PubMed, TOXNET, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. Additional references were identified from the reference lists of published articles. Bibliographical information, including contributory unpublished data, was also requested from companies developing drugs. Search terms were pregnancy, psychotropic drugs, (a)typical-first-second-generation antipsychotics, and neuroleptics. A separate search was also conducted to complete the safety profile of each reviewed medication. Searches were last updated on July 2008.

DATA SELECTION

All articles reporting primary data on the outcome of pregnancies exposed to antipsychotics were acquired, without methodological limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Reviewed information was too limited to draw definite conclusions on structural teratogenicity of FGAs and SGAs. Both classes of drugs seem to be associated with an increased risk of neonatal complications. However, most SGAs appear to increase risk of gestational metabolic complications and babies large for gestational age and with mean birth weight significantly heavier as compared with those exposed to FGAs. These risks have been reported rarely with FGAs. Hence, the choice of the less harmful option in pregnancy should be limited to FGAs in drug-naive patients. When pregnancy occurs during antipsychotic treatment, the choice to continue the previous therapy should be preferred.

Lithium: updated human knowledge using an evidence-based approach. Part II: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic monitoring

After a single dose, lithium, usually given as carbonate, reaches a peak plasma concentration at 1.0-2.0 hours for standard-release dosage forms, and 4-5 hours for sustained-release forms. Its bioavailability is 80-100%, its total clearance 10-40 mL/min and its elimination half-life is 18-36 hours. Use of the sustained-release formulation results in 30-50% reductions in peak plasma concentrations without major changes in the area under the plasma concentration curve. Lithium distribution to the brain, evaluated using 7Li magnetic resonance spectroscopy, showed brain concentrations to be approximately half those in serum, occasionally increasing to 75-80%. Brain concentrations were weakly correlated with serum concentrations. Lithium is almost exclusively excreted via the kidney as a free ion and lithium clearance is considered to decrease with aging. No gender- or race-related differences in kinetics have been demonstrated. Renal insufficiency is associated with a considerable reduction in renal clearance of lithium and is considered a contraindication to its use, especially if a sodium-poor diet is required. During the last months of pregnancy, lithium clearance increases by 30-50% as a result of an increase in glomerular filtration rate. Lithium also passes freely from maternal plasma into breast milk. Numerous kinetic interactions have been described for lithium, usually involving a decrease in the drug's clearance and therefore increasing its potential toxicity. Clinical pharmacology studies performed in healthy volunteers have investigated a possible effect of lithium on cognitive functions. Most of these studies reported a slight, negative effect on vigilance, alertness, learning and short-term memory after long-term administration only. Because of the narrow therapeutic range of lithium, therapeutic monitoring is the basis for optimal use and administration of this drug. Lithium dosages should be adjusted on the basis of the serum concentration drawn (optimally) 12 hours after the last dose. In patients receiving once-daily administration, the serum concentration at 24 hours should serve as the control value. The efficacy of lithium is clearly dose-dependent and reliably correlates with serum concentrations. It is now generally accepted that concentrations should be maintained between 0.6 and 0.8 mmol/L, although some authors still favour 0.8-1.2 mmol/L. With sustained-release preparations, and because of the later peak of serum lithium concentration, it is advised to keep serum concentrations within the upper range (0.8-1 mmol/L), rather than 0.6-0.8 mmol/L for standard formulations. It is controversial whether a reduced concentration is required in elderly people. The usual maintenance daily dose is 25-35 mmol (lithium carbonate 925-1300 mg) for patients aged <40 years; 20-25 mmol (740-925 mg) for those aged 40-60 years; and 15-20 mmol (550-740 mg) for patients aged >60 years. The initial recommended dose is usually 12-24 mmol (450-900 mg) per day, depending on age and bodyweight. The classical administration schedule is two or three times daily, although there is no strong evidence in favour of a three-times-daily schedule, and compliance with the midday dose is questionable. With a modern sustained-release preparation, the twice-daily schedule is well established, although one single evening dose is being recommended by a number of expert panels.

Postpartum Depression: An Update

Postpartum depression occurs in at least one in seven new mothers, usually within the first 6 months after delivery. By the time of onset of postpartum depression, the mother has usually long since been discharged from the maternity hospital. Early identification and treatment of these mothers reduces both maternal and infant suffering. Careful risk–benefit decision-making regarding various treatment options in the postpartum should be discussed with the mother. Risks of untreated depression include poor bonding with the infant, lack of self care, infant neglect and infanticide.

Current issues: women and bipolar disorder

While the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) is typically complex, the treatment of women with bipolar disorder is even more challenging because clinicians must also individualize treatment based on the potential for pregnancy, drug interactions with oral contraceptives, and an increased risk of endocrine diseases that can either impact the course of illness or become manifest with some treatments. Women with BD should be checked for hypothyroidism, and if prescribed antidepressants, carefully watched for rapid cycling or a mood switch to mania, hypomania, or a mixed state. Several medications interact with oral contraceptives or increase the risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome. Consideration of possible pregnancy is essential, and should be planned in advance whenever possible. Rates of recurrence have been shown to be equal in pregnant and nonpregnant women with BD. Risks of medication to the fetus at various points of development must be balanced against the risks of not treating, which is also detrimental to both fetus and mother. The postpartum period is a time of especially high risk; as many as 40% to 67% of women with BD report experiencing a postpartum mania or depression. The decision to breastfeed must also take into account the adverse impact of sleep deprivation in triggering mood episodes. In order to best address these issues, clinicians must be familiar with the data and collaborate with the patient to assess risks and benefits for the individual women and her family.

Teratogenicity of antiepileptic medications

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are frequently used to treat several conditions that are common in women of childbearing age, including epilepsy, headaches, and mood disorders. Moreover, as in the case of epilepsy and severe psychiatric disease, clinicians frequently do not have the option of stopping these medications or switching to another class of drugs. Overall, AEDs have been associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations, minor anomalies, specific congenital syndromes, and developmental disorders seen in childhood. However, the differential effects of individual AEDs remain uncertain. Data are accumulating which strongly suggest that these risks are highest in patients receiving polypharmacy and valproate. There is also modest evidence to suggest an increased risk for phenobarbital. While other older AEDs appear to carry some teratogenic risk, there is not adequate evidence to further stratify their risk. Clinical and basic science research regarding newer AEDs suggests equivalent, if not safer, profiles compared with older AEDs, but these data are inconclusive. Management of women with epilepsy should include a discussion of these risks, prophylactic treatment with folic acid, and the minimal use of polypharmacy and valproate needed to maintain optimum seizure control.

The prevalence of mixed episodes during the course of illness in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of mixed episodes during the course of illness in bipolar disorder.

METHOD

A total of 1620 patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder at the first psychiatric contact were identified in a period from 1994 to 2003 in Denmark and the prevalence of mixed, depressive and hypomanic/manic episodes were calculated at each episode.

RESULTS

The prevalence of mixed episodes increased from the first episode to the tenth episode, however, only for women (6.7% of the first episodes leading to psychiatric care compared with 18.2% of the tenth episodes). For men, the prevalence of mixed episodes was constantly low. At all episodes, the presence of a current mixed episode increased the risk substantially of getting a future mixed episode.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should pay more attention to mixed episodes, especially among women, as they may represent an increasing treatment challenge as the illness progress.

Quetiapine use for the treatment of manic episode during pregnancy

The foregoing is a case report about a 30-year-old woman, who was referred to our psychiatry clinic with a clinical picture of manic episode, at the 21st week of her first pregnancy. She had a history of bipolar affective disorder for 12 years, had two previous manic episodes and had stopped taking lithium 6 months ago because of her plans to become pregnant. Quetiapine was begun and the dose was slowly increased to 1200 mg/day after 2 weeks. She continued to receive quetiapine throughout her pregnancy. Her obstetrical and perinatal examinations were done by a consultant obstetrician. At the follow-up, she had given birth to a boy, at 39th week of her pregnancy, with an Apgar score of 10. Follow-up of the infant up to 3 months reveals normal physical and psychomotor development. The pros and cons of quetiapine use during pregnancy are discussed.

Prise en charge des femmes souffrant d'un trouble bipolaire de la conception au post-partum

Any plans for pregnancy must be discussed in detail with women with bipolar disorders. They must be informed about the risks related to it and the need for some precautions. Because of the risk of relapse during pregnancy, the risk/benefit ratio of maintaining or starting prophylactic treatment should be assessed, taking into account family history and frequency of recurrences. Lithium may be used during pregnancy under close monitoring. Most anticonvulsants are contraindicated because of their teratogenicity. During the post-partum period, prophylaxis is required in most cases because of the high risk of relapse. If no prophylaxis was given during pregnancy, it must be started quickly after delivery to be effective when the risk is at its highest, i.e., during the first two weeks after delivery. Women with bipolar disorders should be advised against breast-feeding to avoid exposure of the infant to psychotropic medication. Because breast-feeding can be stressful and causes sleep deprivation, it may increase the risk of relapse. Second-generation antipsychotic agents should not be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding because inadequate information is currently available about their safety.

Adherence to lithium in naturalistic settings: results from a nationwide pharmacoepidemiological study

OBJECTIVES

To estimate adherence to lithium in a nationwide sample of all patients treated with lithium and to characterize adherence according to gender and age.

METHODS

Adherence to lithium was estimated using data obtained by linking Medicinal Product Statistics with the Danish Medical Register on Vital Statistics, identifying all persons who received lithium among the 5.3 million persons living in Denmark during the period 1995 to 2000 inclusive.

RESULTS

The median time to discontinuation of lithium was 181.0 days [95% confidence interval (CI) 135.7-181.0] and 25% of patients stopped treatment with lithium within 45.2 days. Adherence to lithium was significantly poorer for women (135.7 days; 95% CI 90.5-135.7) than for men (316.7 days; 95% CI 271.4-407.1) and for younger (18-39 years) and older (>or=60 years) patients compared to middle-aged patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The results highlight the need for increased focus on long-term adherence to lithium with intensified psychological support, especially among younger and older female patients.

The effect of gender on emotion perception in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

Impaired emotion perception is documented for schizophrenia, but findings have been mixed for bipolar disorder. In healthy samples females perform better than males. This study compared emotion perception in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and investigated the effects of gender.

METHOD

Visual (facial pictures) and auditory (sentences) emotional stimuli were presented for identification and discrimination in groups of participants with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy controls.

RESULTS

Visual emotion perception was unimpaired in both clinical groups, but the schizophrenia sample showed reduced auditory emotion perception. Healthy males and male schizophrenia subjects performed worse than their female counterparts, whereas there were no gender differences within the bipolar group.

CONCLUSION

A disease-specific auditory emotion processing deficit was confirmed in schizophrenia, especially for males. Participants with bipolar disorder performed unimpaired.

Perinatal risk factors and infantile autism

OBJECTIVE

Suboptimal conditions during pregnancy and birth have been suggested as a cause of infantile autism. We have studied the association between obstetric factors and infantile autism.

METHOD

A population-based, matched case-control study of infantile autism. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

The risk of infantile autism was increased for mothers aged >35 years, with foreign citizenship, and mothers who used medicine during pregnancy. A higher risk of infantile autism was seen among children with low birth weight and with congenital malformations. Birth interventions, pathological cardiotocography, green amnion fluid and acidosis during delivery were not associated with increased risk for infantile autism.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that suboptimal birth conditions are not an independent risk factor for infantile autism. A high prevalence of low birth weight and birth defects among autism cases seems to explain the suboptimal birth outcome.

Prophylactic treatment of bipolar disorder in pregnancy and breastfeeding: focus on emerging mood stabilizers

OBJECTIVES

Bipolar disorders are reported to have a high incidence during childbearing years and the need may arise to start or continue a pharmacological treatment during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In the last few years several investigations have evaluated the efficacy of emerging mood-stabilizing agents in the treatment of bipolar disorders, such as lamotrigine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole and ziprasidone. A number of studies, which examined the use of oxcarbazepine, point to its potential usefulness in prophylactic treatment. The aim of this review is to compare information from the literature on the safety of lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine to the safety data on classic mood stabilizers during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

METHODS

A computerized search carried out from 1980 to April 5, 2006 led to the summarization of the results. (References were updated after acceptance and prior to publication.)

RESULTS

Emerging mood stabilizers show uncertain safety parameters in pregnancy and lactation. Limited information on lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine does not suggest a clear increase in teratogenicity, while olanzapine appears to be associated with a higher risk of metabolic complications in pregnant women. Data about risperidone and quetiapine are still inconclusive. Finally, the literature on the safety of these compounds in breastfeeding is anecdotal.

CONCLUSIONS

Untreated pregnant bipolar women are at an increased risk of poor obstetrical outcomes and relapse of affective symptoms. On the other hand, classic antiepileptic drugs are well-known human teratogens, whereas data on lithium are partially ambiguous. The safety of emerging mood stabilizers in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been examined extensively. Therefore, when approaching bipolar disorder, if possible, each episode must be considered separately.