Clinical distinctions in symptomatology and psychiatric comorbidities between misdiagnosed bipolar I and bipolar II disorder versus major depressive disorder

BACKGROUND

To explore the demographic and clinical features of current depressive episode that discriminate patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) from those with bipolar I (BP-I) and bipolar II (BP-II) disorder who were misdiagnosed as having MDD .

METHODS

The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) assessment was performed to establish DSM-IV diagnoses of MDD, and BP-I and BP-II, previously being misdiagnosed as MDD. Demographics, depressive symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities were compared between 1463 patients with BP-I, BP-II and MDD from 8 psychiatric settings in mainland China. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed to assess clinical correlates of diagnoses.

RESULTS

A total of 14.5% of the enrolled patients initially diagnosed with MDD were eventually diagnosed with BP. Broad illness characteristics including younger age, higher prevalence of recurrence, concurrent dysthymia, suicidal attempts, agitation, psychotic features and psychiatric comorbidities, as well as lower prevalence of insomnia, weight loss and somatic symptoms were featured by patients with BP-I and/or BP-I, compared to those with MDD. Comparisons between BP-I and BP-II versus MDD indicated distinct symptom profiles and comorbidity patterns with more differences being observed between BP-II and MDD, than between BP-I and MDD .

CONCLUSION

The results provide evidence of clinically distinguishing characteristics between misdiagnosed BP-I and BP- II versus MDD. The findings have implications for guiding more accurate diagnoses of bipolar disorders.

Oculomotor Abnormalities and Aberrant Neuro-Developmental Markers: Composite Endophenotype for Bipolar I Disorder: Anomalies Oculomotrices et Marqueurs Neuro-Développementaux Aberrants : Endophénotype Composite du Trouble Bipolaire I

BACKGROUND

Neurological soft signs (NSSs), minor physical anomalies (MPAs), and oculomotor abnormalities were plausible biomarkers in bipolar disorder (BD). However, specific impairments in these markers in patients after the first episode mania (FEM), in comparison with first-degree relatives (high risk [HR]) of BD and healthy subjects (health control [HC]) are sparse.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed at examining NSSs, MPAs, and oculomotor abnormalities in remitted adult subjects following FEM and HR subjects in comparison with matched healthy controls. Investigated when taken together, could serve as composite endophenotype for BD.

METHODS

NSSs, MPAs, and oculomotor abnormalities were evaluated in FEM (n = 31), HR (n = 31), and HC (n = 30) subjects, matched for age (years) (p = 0.44) and sex (p = 0.70) using neurological evaluation scale, Waldrop's physical anomaly scale and eye tracking (SPEM) and antisaccades (AS) paradigms, respectively.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found between groups on NSSs, MPAs, and oculomotor parameters. Abnormalities are higher in FEM subjects compared to HR and HC subjects. Using linear discriminant analysis, all 3 markers combined accurately classified 72% of the original 82 subjects (79·2% BD, 56·70% HR, and 82·1% HC subjects).

CONCLUSIONS

AS and SPEM could enhance the utility of NSSs, and MPAs as markers for BD. The presence of these abnormalities in FEM suggests their role in understanding the etiopathogenesis of BD in patients who are in the early course of illness. These have the potential to be composite endophenotypes and have further utility in early identification in BD.

Differences in clinical presentation between newly diagnosed bipolar I and II disorders: A naturalistic study

AIM

This naturalistic clinical study aims to investigate differences between newly diagnosed patients with bipolar type I (BDI) and bipolar type II (BDII) disorders in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, affective symptoms, cognition, functioning and comorbidity with personality disorders.

METHODS

The BD diagnosis and type were confirmed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Affective symptoms were assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Major Depressive Index, and the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale. Functional impairment was assessed with the Functional Assessment Short Test. Cognitive impairment was evaluated by the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry and the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment. Finally, comorbid personality disorders were assessed with the Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale and structured interview Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-disorders.

RESULTS

383 newly diagnosed patients were included (BDI: n = 125; BDII: n = 258). Against expectations, we found no more depressive symptoms in BDII compared with BDI nor any differences in cognitive, childhood trauma or overall functional impairment. The only difference was lower occupational impairment in the BDII group.

LIMITATIONS

The self-reported measures of cognitive difficulties and childhood trauma involved potential bias (recall or other). Despite BD being newly diagnosed a diagnostic delay was observed.

CONCLUSION

Patients newly diagnosed with BDII and BDI had similar burdens of depressive symptoms and cognitive and overall functional impairment, however patients with BDI had lower occupational functioning. No statistically significant difference was found in prevalence of comorbid personality disorders between patients with BDI and BDII.

Possible association between lithium intoxication and Takotsubo syndrome

More than 25 years after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and receiving continuous treatment with lithium, a woman develops Takotsubo syndrome.

Prediction of the Duration to Next Admission for an Acute Affective Episode in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder

Objective

Predicting disease relapse and early intervention could reduce symptom severity. We attempted to identify potential indicators that predict the duration to next admission for an acute affective episode in patients with bipolar I disorder.

Methods

We mathematically defined the duration to next psychiatric admission and performed single-variate regressions using historical data of 101 patients with bipolar I disorder to screen for potential variables for further multivariate regressions.

Results

Age of onset, total psychiatric admissions, length of lithium use, and carbamazepine use during the psychiatric hospitalization contributed to the next psychiatric admission duration positively. The all-in-one found that hyperlipidemia during the psychiatric hospitalization demonstrated a negative contribution to the duration to next psychiatric admission; the last duration to psychiatric admission, lithium and carbamazepine uses during the psychiatric hospitalization, and heart rate on the discharge day positively contributed to the duration to next admission.

Conclusion

We identified essential variables that may predict the duration of bipolar I patients' next psychiatric admission. The correlation of a faster heartbeat and a normal lipid profile in delaying the next onset highlights the importance of managing these parameters when treating bipolar I disorder.

Challenges in diagnosis, treatment and coordination of care of menstrual psychosis

We present a suspected case of menstrual psychosis in an adolescent to highlight the unique attributes of this rare condition. An early adolescent female began displaying episodes of aggression, irritability, insomnia, hallucinations and disorganisation at menarche. Subsequent episodes resulted in multiple inpatient psychiatric hospital admissions coinciding with her menstrual cycle. Management from both psychiatry and gynaecology of her episodes, and abnormal hormone levels, was challenging. This report emphasises the importance of coordination between specialties, navigating diagnostic challenges and weighing the risk versus benefit of long-term neuroleptic use.

The efficacy of lumateperone on symptoms of depression in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: Secondary and post hoc analyses

A recent Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study established that lumateperone 42-mg monotherapy significantly improved symptoms of depression in patients with bipolar depression. This manuscript reports prespecified secondary and post hoc efficacy analyses. Patients with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder experiencing a major depressive episode were randomized 1:1 to lumateperone 42 mg or placebo, administered orally once daily for 6 weeks. Prespecified analyses evaluated change from baseline to Day 43 in individual Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) item scores in the modified intent-to-treat population (mITT) and bipolar I and bipolar II disorder subgroups. Post hoc analyses investigated the MADRS anhedonia factor and categorical shifts in MADRS item scores. In the mITT, there was significant improvement from baseline to Day 43 with lumateperone 42 mg compared with placebo for all 10 MADRS items; most MADRS items significantly improved in subgroups with bipolar I (9 items) and bipolar II disorder (8 items). A significantly higher proportion of patients receiving lumateperone compared with placebo shifted from baseline MADRS item score ≥4 to ≤2 at end of treatment in Reported Sadness, Reduced Sleep, Concentration Difficulties, Lassitude, Inability to Feel, and Pessimistic Thoughts. Lumateperone significantly improved the MADRS anhedonia factor from baseline to Day 43 compared with placebo in the mITT (effect size, -0.47) and subgroups with bipolar I (-0.36) and bipolar II disorder (-0.90). Lumateperone 42 mg treatment significantly improved depression symptoms compared with placebo, with consistent efficacy across a broad range of symptoms in people with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder.

Relationship between mental health diagnoses and COVID-19 test positivity, hospitalization, and mortality in Southeast Wisconsin

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of literature on the relationship between pre-existing mental health conditions and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. The aim was to examine the association between pre-existing mental health diagnosis and COVID-19 outcomes (positive screen, hospitalization, mortality).

METHODS

Electronic medical record data for 30 976 adults tested for COVID-19 between March 2020 and 10th July 2020 was analyzed. COVID-19 outcomes included positive screen, hospitalization among screened positive, and mortality among screened positive and hospitalized. Primary independent variable, mental health disorders, was based on ICD-10 codes categorized as bipolar, internalizing, externalizing, and psychoses. Descriptive statistics were calculated, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the relationship between each mental health disorder and COVID-19 outcomes.

RESULTS

Adults with externalizing (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95%CI 0.57-0.79) and internalizing disorders (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.70-0.88) had lower odds of having a positive COVID-19 test in fully adjusted models. Adults with bipolar disorder had significantly higher odds of hospitalization in fully adjusted models (OR 4.27, 95% CI 2.06-8.86), and odds of hospitalization were significantly higher among those with externalizing disorders after adjusting for demographics (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.23-2.38). Mortality was significantly higher in the fully adjusted model for patients with bipolar disorder (hazard ratio 2.67, 95% CI 1.07-6.67).

CONCLUSIONS

Adults with mental health disorders, while less likely to test positive for COVID-19, were more likely to be hospitalized and to die in the hospital. Study results suggest the importance of developing interventions that incorporate elements designed to address smoking cessation, nutrition and physical activity counseling and other needs specific to this population to improve COVID-19 outcomes.

Mini Review on Cariprazine: A Promising Antipsychotic Agent

Cariprazine is a piperazine derivative approved by the USFDA in 2015 as a novel atypical antipsychotic drug (APD) to treat adults with schizophrenia and bipolar manic or mixed episodes in adults. However, due to the partial agonist action on dopamine D₂, D₃ receptors, and serotonin 5-HT_1A receptors as well as the antagonist effect on 5-HT_2A, 5-HT_2B, and H₁ receptors, cariprazine differs pharmacologically from other APDs, both typical and atypical. Moreover, cariprazine also has a unique pharmacokinetic profile due to the formation of two clinically significant metabolites: desmethyl-cariprazine (DCAR) and desmethyl-cariprazine (DDCAR). They are eliminated by CYP3A4 and also, to a lesser extent, by CYP2D6. Here, we also review the effectiveness, safety, as well as current clinical update of cariprazine in bipolar I disorder associated with/without mania and schizophrenia through randomized and post-hoc analysis. The potential benefits of cariprazine as a promising therapeutic alternative in addressing major clinical requirements for better therapy of such severe neuropsychiatric conditions were demonstrated in this summarized review study.

Psychotic features, particularly mood incongruence, as a hallmark of severity of bipolar I disorder

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of psychotic features within mood episodes in patients with bipolar I disorder (BD I) has been associated in some studies with a more severe clinical and socio-professional profile. In contrast, other studies establishing the associations of psychotic features in BD I, and in particular of mood-congruent (MC) and mood-incongruent (MI) features, with clinical characteristics have yielded contradictory results. However, many pre-existing studies have been affected by serious methodological limitations. Using a sample of thoroughly assessed patients with BD I our aims were to: (1) establish the proportion of those with MI and MC features, and (2) compare BD I patients with and without psychotic features as well as those with MI to those with MC features on a wide array of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including course, psychiatric comorbidity and treatment.

METHODS

A sample of 162 treated patients with BD I (60.5% female, mean age = 41.4 (s.d: 10.2) years) was recruited within a large family study of mood disorders. Clinical, course and treatment characteristics relied on information elicited through direct diagnostic interviews, family history reports and medical records.

RESULTS

(1) A total of 96 patients (59.3%) had experienced psychotic features over their lifetime. Among them, 44.8% revealed MI features at least once in their lives. (2) Patients with psychotic features were much less likely to be professionally active, revealed alcohol abuse more frequently and used health care, particularly inpatient treatment, more frequently than those without psychotic features. Within patients with psychotic symptoms, those with MI features showed more clinical severity in terms of a higher likelihood of reporting hallucinations, suicidal attempts and comorbid cannabis dependence.

CONCLUSION

Our data provide additional support for both the distinction between BD-I with and without psychotic features as well as the distinction between MI and MC psychotic features. The more severe course of patients with psychotic features, and particularly those with MI psychotic features, highlights the need for thorough psychopathological evaluations to assess the presence of these symptoms to install appropriate treatment.

The real-world health resource use and costs of misdiagnosing bipolar I disorder

BACKGROUND

Misdiagnosis of bipolar I disorder (BP-I) as major depressive disorder (MDD) is common. This study evaluated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among BP-I patients who were initially misdiagnosed with MDD (misdiagnosed BP-I cohort) versus patients diagnosed with BP-I without a known prior MDD diagnosis (BP-I only cohort).

METHODS

Data from IBM® MarketScan® Research Databases were used. The index date was the first MDD diagnosis for misdiagnosed patients or first BP-I diagnosis for BP-I only patients. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance baseline characteristics between cohorts. All-cause and mental health (MH)-related HRU and costs were compared between weighted cohorts using rate ratios (RRs) and mean cost differences, respectively. Outcomes were reported per patient-year (PPY). Confidence intervals and P-values were calculated using non-parametric bootstrap procedures.

RESULTS

Overall, 14,729 misdiagnosed BP-I and 16,072 BP-I only patients met criteria. Baseline characteristics were balanced across weighted cohorts. Misdiagnosed BP-I patients had significantly higher rates of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits than BP-I only patients during follow-up (all-cause RRs: 1.94, 1.33, and 1.38, respectively, all P < .001; MH-related RRs: 2.19, 1.77, and 1.77, respectively, all P < .001). Similarly, misdiagnosed BP-I patients incurred significantly higher total healthcare costs PPY over follow-up (all-cause: $21,202 vs $14,661, cost difference = $6541; MH-related: $12,901 vs $6749, cost difference = $6152; both P < .001). Cost differences were even higher during the first year (all-cause = $7146; MH-related = $6619; both P < .001).

LIMITATIONS

Claims database (e.g., coding inaccuracies); generalizability to uninsured patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The prompt and correct diagnosis of BP-I may significantly reduce HRU and costs.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of Chinese adult patients with bipolar I disorder

Background

Lamotrigine is approved as a maintenance therapy for bipolar I disorder in many countries, including China in 2021. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in controlling relapse and/or recurrence of mood episodes in Chinese patients with bipolar I disorder.

Methods

Patients aged ≥ 18 years with bipolar I disorder who met response criteria (Clinical Global Impression–Severity [CGI-S] score of ≤ 3 for ≥ 4 consecutive weeks) during treatment with lamotrigine in a 6–16 week open-label (OL) phase, and who were maintained for ≥ 1 week on lamotrigine 200 mg/day monotherapy, were randomised (1:1) to continue receiving lamotrigine 200 mg/day or switch to placebo in a 36-week randomised double-blind (RD) phase. The primary efficacy outcome measure was time from entry into the RD phase to intervention for relapse and/or recurrence of a mood episode (TIME). Post hoc analyses assessed the impact of OL baseline mood severity on TIME. Safety assessments were conducted throughout the study.

Results

Of 420 patients treated in the OL phase, 264 were randomised to receive lamotrigine (n = 131) or placebo (n = 133). Overall, 112 patients had an intervention for relapse and/or recurrence of a mood episode (lamotrigine, n = 50/130 [38.5%]; placebo, n = 62/133 [46.6%]), with no significant difference in TIME between groups (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] 0.93 [0.64, 1.35]; p = 0.701). Post hoc analyses indicated a significant difference in TIME, favouring lamotrigine over placebo, for patients with baseline CGI-S score ≥ 4 (hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.52 [0.30, 0.89]; p = 0.018) and with baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ≥ 18 or Young Mania Rating Scale ≥ 10 (0.44 [hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.25, 0.78]; p = 0.005). Lamotrigine was well tolerated with no new safety signals.

Conclusions

Lamotrigine was not significantly superior to placebo in preventing relapse and/or recurrence of mood episodes in this study of Chinese patients with bipolar I disorder but post hoc analyses suggested a therapeutic benefit in patients with moderate/severe mood symptoms at baseline. The discrepancy between these findings and the positive findings of the pivotal studies may be attributable to the symptom severity of the bipolar patients recruited, a high dropout rate, and the comparatively short duration of the RD phase rather than race/ethnicity differences.

Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier NCT01602510; 21st May 2012; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01602510.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40345-022-00266-4.

Familial risk for bipolar I disorder is associated with erythrocyte omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficits in youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a family history of bipolar I disorder (BD) increase the risk for developing BD, associated pathoetiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. One candidate risk factor is a neurodevelopmental deficiency in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study investigated erythrocyte EPA+DHA biostatus in psychostimulant-free ADHD youth with ('high-risk', HR) and without ('low-risk', LR) a first-degree relative with BD, and healthy controls (HC). Erythrocyte EPA+DHA composition was determined by gas chromatography, and symptom ratings were performed. A total of n = 123 (HR, n = 41; LR, n = 42; HC, n = 40) youth (mean age: 14.4 ± 2.5 years) were included in the analysis. Compared with HC, erythrocyte EPA+DHA composition was significantly lower in HR (-13%) but not LR (-3%), and there was a trend for HR to be lower than LR (-11%). Both HR and LR differed significantly from HC on all symptom ratings. HR had greater ADHD hyperactivity/impulsive symptom severity, manic symptom severity, and higher parent-reported ratings of internalization, externalization, and dysregulation, compared with LR. ADHD youth with a BD family history exhibit erythrocyte EPA+DHA deficits and a more severe clinical profile, including greater manic and dysregulation symptoms, compared with ADHD youth without a BD family history.

The post COVID-19 healthcare landscape and the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics for individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder: the importance of an integrated collaborative-care approach

BACKGROUND

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are an essential maintenance treatment option for individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (BP-I). This report summarizes a roundtable discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental healthcare landscape and use of LAIs for individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I.

METHODS

Ten experts and stakeholders from diverse fields of healthcare participated in a roundtable discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment challenges, and gaps in healthcare for individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I, informed by a literature search.

RESULTS

Individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and increased risk of mortality after COVID-19 diagnosis. LAI prescriptions decreased early on in the pandemic, driven by a decrease in face-to-face consultations. Mental healthcare services are adapting with increased use of telehealth and home-based treatment. Clinical workflows to provide consistent, in-person LAI services include screening for COVID-19 exposure and infection, minimizing contact, and ensuring mask-wearing by individuals and staff. The importance of continued in-person visits for LAIs needs to be discussed so that staff can share that information with patients, their caregivers, and families. A fully integrated, collaborative-care model is the most important aspect of care for individuals with schizophrenia or BP-I during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of a fully integrated collaborative-care model to ensure regular, routine healthcare contact and access to prescribed treatments and services for individuals with schizophrenia and BP-I.

Differences in mitochondrial DNA copy number between patients with bipolar I and II disorders

Mitochondria play a critical role in energy metabolism. Genetic, postmortem brain, and brain imaging studies of bipolar disorder (BD) patients indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction might explain BD pathophysiology. Mitochondrial function can be indirectly evaluated by measuring mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers. We recruited 186 bipolar I disorder (BD1) and 95 bipolar II disorder (BD2) patients, and age- and sex-matched controls. MtDNA copy numbers in peripheral blood cells were measured via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We explored parameters (including age and clinical features) that might affect mtDNA copy numbers. We found that BD1 patients had a lower mtDNA copy number than controls and that mtDNA copy number was negatively associated with the number of mood episodes. BD2 patients had a higher mtDNA copy number than controls. Thus, changes in mitochondrial function may influence BD pathophysiology. The opposite directions of the association with mtDNA copy number in BD1 and BD2 patients suggests that the difference in pathophysiology may be associated with mitochondrial function.

Place of care and costs associated with acute episodes and remission in bipolar I disorder

AIMS

To our knowledge, literature describing the place of care and associated costs during acute bipolar I disorder (BP-I) episodes is limited. We conducted a claims-based retrospective study to address this gap.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adults with BP-I were identified via IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases. The acute episode index date was defined by ≥1 inpatient BP-I claim(s) or ≥1 outpatient or ≥3 outpatient BP-I claims (depending on visit type) in a 2-week (manic/mixed) or 4-week (depressive) period. Likely acute episodes were defined as 3- and 6-week periods for manic/mixed and depressive episodes, respectively; total mental health-related medical costs (health plan + patient) were collected during these intervals and stratified by setting (inpatient versus outpatient). Initial and subsequent episodes were captured; data were reported in subgroups without and with clozapine use, a proxy for disease severity. The remission index date was the earliest outpatient claim with a bipolar remission diagnosis with no acute episode or treatment. Remission costs were collected over a 3-month period. All results were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

A total of 41,516 patients with 130,221 acute manic/mixed episodes and 47,763 patients with 149,207 acute depressive episodes met the study criteria. Over 84% of acute episodes were treated in outpatient settings. Mental health-related medical costs for manic/mixed episodes were $15,444 for inpatient and $1,577 for outpatient settings; inpatient and outpatient costs for depressive episodes were $17,376 and $2,154, respectively. Health plans covered approximately 78% of medical costs for both episode types with and without prior clozapine use. A total of 8,143 patients met remission criteria; the total 3-month outpatient costs were $1,225.

CONCLUSIONS

Most BP-I acute manic/mixed or depressive episodes were treated in the outpatient setting. Episodes with inpatient care were 8-10 times more costly than outpatient-only episodes. Health plans covered most medical costs, but additional patient-incurred out-of-pocket costs remained.

Using density of antecedent events and trajectory path analysis to investigate family-correlated patterns of onset of bipolar I disorder: a comparison of cohorts from Europe and USA

BACKGROUND

Major contributors to the global burden of bipolar disorders (BD) are the early age at onset (AAO) and the co-occurrence of non-mood disorders before and after the onset of BD. Using data from two independent cohorts from Europe and the USA, we investigated whether the trajectories of BD-I onset and patterns of psychiatric comorbidities differed in (a) individuals with or without a family history (FH) of BD, or (b) probands and parents who both had BD-I.

METHODS

First, we estimated cumulative probabilities and AAO of comorbid mental disorders in familial and non-familial cases of BD-I (Europe, n = 573), and sex-matched proband-parent pairs of BD-I cases (USA, n = 194). Then we used time to onset analyses to compare overall AAO of BD-I and AAO according to onset polarity. Next, we examined associations between AAO and polarity of onset of BD-I according to individual experiences of comorbidities. This included analysis of the density of antecedent events (defined as the number of antecedent comorbidities per year of exposure to mental illness per individual) and time trend analysis of trajectory paths plotted for the subgroups included in each cohort (using R² goodness of fit analysis).

RESULTS

Earlier AAO of BD-I was found in FH versus non-FH cases (log rank test = 7.63; p = 0.006) and in probands versus parents with BD-I (log rank test = 15.31; p = 0.001). In the European cohort, AAO of BD-I was significantly associated with factors such as: FH of BD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.60), earlier AAO of first non-mood disorder (HR: 0.93) and greater number of comorbidities (HR: 0.74). In the USA cohort, probands with BD-I had an earlier AAO for depressive and manic episodes and AAO was also associated with e.g., number of comorbidities (HR: 0.65) and year of birth (HR: 2.44). Trajectory path analysis indicated significant differences in density of antecedents between subgroups within each cohort. However, the time trend R² analysis was significantly different for the European cohort only.

CONCLUSIONS

Estimating density of antecedent events and comparing trajectory plots for different BD subgroups are informative adjuncts to established statistical approaches and may offer additional insights that enhance understanding of the evolution of BD-I.

Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and one open-label, long-term trial of brexpiprazole for the acute treatment of bipolar mania

BACKGROUND

Brexpiprazole is a dopamine/serotonin receptor partial agonist (D₂, 5-HT_1A) and antagonist (5-HT_2A) approved for treatment of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (adjunct to antidepressants).

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate brexpiprazole as monotherapy in acute mania (bipolar I disorder) in two short-term (ST) studies (study 080 and study 081) and one open-label (OL) extension (study 083).

METHODS

ST studies were three-week randomized, double-blind, flexible dose (2-4 mg/day), placebo-controlled studies. The primary endpoint was mean change in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score from baseline to day 21. The OL study was a 26-week flexible dose (2-4 mg/day) study for patients completing the ST studies.

RESULTS

A total of 164 and 158 (study 080) and 170 and 162 (study 081) inpatients with DSM-5 mania with/without mixed features were randomized to placebo or brexpiprazole, respectively. The primary analyses did not show a statistically significant difference between brexpiprazole and placebo: study 080: least squares mean difference (95% confidence limits): 0.14 (-1.74, 2.03), p = 0.8797; study 081: -1.62 (-3.56, 0.32), p = 0.1011. OL study patients (n = 381) demonstrated a gradual improvement in YMRS total score. Akathisia was the only adverse event, with an incidence of ⩾5% with brexpiprazole and more than placebo in the ST studies, or ⩾5% in the OL study. Brexpiprazole was more efficacious in patients with impaired or no insight (predominantly EU patients) than in patients with excellent insight (predominantly US patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are necessary to address the potential efficacy of brexpiprazole in acute mania, which should ensure that the study sample is severe enough (especially with regard to insight), and that the dose/titration schedule is not too modest.

Clinical characteristic of prodromal symptoms between bipolar I and II disorder among Chinese patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify the clinical characteristic of prodromal symptoms in Chinese patients with bipolar disorder (BD), prior to the first affective episode. It further aimed to characterize the prodromal traits between bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and type II (BD-II).

METHODS

120 individuals with BD-I (n = 92) and BD- II (n = 28) were recruited to the study. Semi-structured interviews were then administered to evaluate prodromal symptoms in patients, within 3 years of BD onset, by using the Bipolar Prodrome Symptom Scale-Retrospective (BPSS-R).

RESULTS

In the prodromal phase of the first depressive episode, patients with BD-II experienced more prodromal symptoms (p = 0.0028) compared to BD-I. Additionally, more frequent predictors were reported in patients with BD-II than BD-I including educational and occupational dysfunction (p = 0.0023), social isolation (p < 0.001), difficulty making decisions (p = 0.0012), oppositionality (p = 0.012), and suspiciousness/persecutory ideas (p = 0.017). There were also differences in the duration of the precursors. The duration of "weight loss or decrease in appetite" (p = 0.016) lasted longer in patients with BD-I, while "obsessions and compulsions" (p = 0.023) started earlier in patients with BD-II and occurred during the pre-depressive period. The prevalence and duration of each reported prodrome, preceding a first (hypo) manic episode, showed no difference between patients with BD-I and BD-II.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific affective, general, or psychotic symptoms occurred prior to both affective episodes. The characteristic of prodromal symptoms were key predictors for later episodes of BD including attenuated mania-like symptoms, subthreshold depressed mood, mood swings/lability, and anxiety. In the pre-depressive state, when compared to BD-II, BD-I presented with more prodromal symptoms in nonspecific dimensions, which indicated the substantial burden of BD-II. In conclusion, this study extends the understanding of the characteristics of prodromes of BD-I and BD-II.

Hospitalization risk among adults with bipolar I disorder treated with lurasidone versus other oral atypical antipsychotics: a retrospective analysis of Medicaid claims data

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of hospitalization for adult Medicaid beneficiaries with bipolar I disorder treated with lurasidone vs. other oral atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) as monotherapy.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of the IBM MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid Claims database identified adults with bipolar I disorder who initiated an AAP (index date) between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2019. Patients were continuously enrolled 12 months pre- and 24 months post-index date. Each month during the post-index period was categorized as monotherapy with lurasidone, aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine or risperidone, no/minimal treatment, or other. Marginal structural models were performed to estimate hospitalization risk and length of stay (LOS) (all-cause and bipolar I disorder-related) compared to lurasidone.

RESULTS

The analysis included 8262 adults. Compared to lurasidone, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of all-cause hospitalization were significantly higher for olanzapine (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.09-2.10) and quetiapine (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.18-1.89). The risk was significantly higher for bipolar I disorder-related hospitalization for quetiapine (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.10-2.04) and risperidone (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.04-2.56) compared to lurasidone. The bipolar I disorder-related LOS per 100 patient-months was more than twice as long for quetiapine (8.42 days) compared to lurasidone (3.97 days, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Lurasidone-treated adult Medicaid patients with bipolar I disorder had significantly lower risk of all-cause hospitalization than those treated with olanzapine and quetiapine and lower risk of bipolar I disorder-related hospitalization than quetiapine and risperidone. Bipolar I disorder-related hospital LOS was significantly shorter for patients treated with lurasidone compared to quetiapine.

Association between genetic variants of the norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2) and bipolar I disorder

We aimed to investigate the associations between genetic variants of the norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, also known as SLC6A2) and diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. In addition, we examined the relationship between the genetic variants and manic and psychotic symptoms in patients with bipolar I disorder. The three SNPs rs28386840, rs2242446, and rs5569 were genotyped in 326 patients: patients with bipolar I disorder (n = 160) and a control group (n = 166). Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for age and sex was conducted to identify independent influences of the SNPs on diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. A possible association between manic and psychotic symptoms and variants of SLC6A2 was also investigated in patients with bipolar I disorder. The rs28836840 SNP in the 5'-UTR of SLC6A2 was significantly associated with bipolar I disorder and with severity of manic and psychotic symptoms in this disorder. Individuals carrying a T allele in the rs28836840 SNP were likely to have a lower risk of bipolar I disorder or lower severity of manic and psychotic symptoms in patients with bipolar I disorder (bipolar I disorder diagnosis: OR = 0.643, 95% Cl = 0.468-0.883, p = 0.006; manic symptoms: β = -2.457, 95% Cl = -4.674 ~ -0.239, p = 0.031; psychotic symptoms: β = -2.501, 95% Cl = -4.700 ~ -0.301, p = 0.027). For the rs2242446 and rs5569 SNPs, there were no significant differences between patients with bipolar I disorder and those without. Our results revealed associations of the rs28386840 SNP with bipolar I disorder diagnosis and with severity of manic and psychotic symptoms. However, the findings reported here require replication in larger samples and various ethnic groups.

Hospitalization Risk for Adults with Bipolar I Disorder Treated with Oral Atypical Antipsychotics as Adjunctive Therapy with Mood Stabilizers: A Retrospective Analysis of Medicaid Claims Data

Background: Atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) with mood stabilizers are recommended as a first-line treatment for patients with bipolar disorder. No studies have compared the inpatient health care resource utilization for patients with bipolar disorder treated with lurasidone as adjunctive therapy with mood stabilizers compared with other oral AAPs. Objective: To compare the risk of hospitalization for adult Medicaid beneficiaries with bipolar I disorder when treated with lurasidone compared with other oral AAPs as adjunctive therapy with mood stabilizers. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the MarketScan Research Databases Multi-State Medicaid Database (IBM, Armonk, NY) claims data to assess patients with bipolar I disorder between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2019. Adult patients who initiated oral AAP treatment with mood stabilizers (index date) and who were continuously enrolled 12 months before (pre-index) and 24 months after (post-index) the index date were included. Treatment categories assigned by patient-month included lurasidone, aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, or ziprasidone with mood stabilizers; no/minimal treatment; AAP monotherapy; and other. Marginal structural models were performed to estimate the all-cause and psychiatric hospitalization rates and hospital length of stay associated with each adjunctive AAP therapy by controlling for both time-invariant and time-varying confounders. Results: Adults with bipolar I disorder (N = 11,426; mean age = 39.4 years; female=73%) treated with an adjunctive oral AAP with mood stabilizers during the index month were categorized into lurasidone (12%), aripiprazole (17%), olanzapine (7%), quetiapine (32%), risperidone (11%), ziprasidone (7%), or other (15%) treatment groups. The adjusted odds of all-cause and psychiatric hospitalization were significantly higher for olanzapine (all causes: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.13-2.25; psychiatric: aOR = 1.61, 95% CI, 1.12-2.32), quetiapine (all-causes: aOR = 1.27, 95% CI, 1.01-1.58; psychiatric: aOR = 1.28, 95% CI, 1.02-1.59), and ziprasidone (all-causes: aOR = 1.68, 95% CI, 1.05-2.66; psychiatric: aOR = 1.55, 95% CI, 1.02-2.35) compared with lurasidone with mood stabilizers. The adjusted odds of all-cause and psychiatric hospitalizations were numerically lower for lurasidone compared with aripiprazole. The all-cause hospital length of stay per 100 patient-months was significantly higher for olanzapine (20.3 days) and quetiapine (16.0 days) compared with lurasidone (12.2 days, both P values < 0.05). Conclusions: In a Medicaid population, adults with bipolar I disorder treated with lurasidone as adjunctive therapy with mood stabilizers had significantly lower all-cause and psychiatric hospitalization rates compared with olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidone. Fewer hospitalizations may reduce the economic burden associated with bipolar disorder. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2021; 82:XXX-XXX).

Proinflammatory Cytokine Dysregulation and Cognitive Dysfunction Among Patients with Remitted Bipolar I and II Disorders

BACKGROUND

Euthymic patients with bipolar disorder reportedly demonstrated increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and cognitive function deficits. Because uncertain differences exist in cognitive function and proinflammatory cytokines between remitted bipolar I (BD1) and bipolar II (BD2) disorders, we performed this study to further investigate these differences.

METHOD

We enrolled 58 patients with remitted BD1 and 27 with remitted BD2, and matched them for age and sex with 51 controls. Proinflammatory cytokines, including soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), C-reactive protein, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) were measured, and performance in the Word List Memory Task (WLMT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) was assessed.

RESULTS

Significantly elevated levels of sTNFR1 were observed among patients with BD1 (p < .001) and BD2 (p = .038) compared with the controls; however, they did not differ between patients with BD1 and BD2 (p =.130). Working memory deficit measured by the WLMT was significantly greater in patients with BD1 (p < .001) and BD2 (p < .05) compared with controls, but did not differ between patients with BD1 and BD2 (p > 0.1). Furthermore, sTNFR1 levels were negatively correlated with cognitive function measured using the WLMT and WCST (all p < .05).

DISCUSSION

Our results showed that euthymic patients with BD1 and BD2 showed similar levels of sTNFR1 and cognitive function (especially working memory) impairments. Further investigation is required to explore whether a common pathophysiology may contribute to the shared inflammatory and cognitive alterations between BD1 and BD2.

Bipolar I disorder: a qualitative study of the viewpoints of the family members of patients on the nature of the disorder and pharmacological treatment non-adherence

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder is a common psychiatric disorder with a massive psychological and social burden. Research indicates that treatment adherence is not good in these patients. The families' knowledge about the disorder is fundamental for managing their patients' disorder. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the knowledge of the family members of a sample of Iranian patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and to explore the potential reasons for treatment non-adherence.

METHODS

This study was conducted by qualitative content analysis. In-depth interviews were held and open-coding inductive analysis was performed. A thematic content analysis was used for the qualitative data analysis.

RESULTS

The viewpoints of the family members of the patients were categorized in five themes, including knowledge about the disorder, information about the medications, information about the treatment and the respective role of the family, reasons for pharmacological treatment non-adherence, and strategies applied by families to enhance treatment adherence in the patients. The research findings showed that the family members did not have enough information about the nature of BD-I, which they attributed to their lack of training on the disorder. The families did not know what caused the recurrence of the disorder and did not have sufficient knowledge about its prescribed medications and treatments. Also, most families did not know about the etiology of the disorder.

CONCLUSION

The lack of knowledge among the family members of patients with BD-I can have a significant impact on relapse and treatment non-adherence. These issues need to be further emphasized in the training of patients' families. The present findings can be used to re-design the guidelines and protocols in a way to improve treatment adherence and avoid the relapse of BD-I symptoms.

Antipsychotic treatment experiences of people with bipolar I disorder: patient perspectives from an online survey

BACKGROUND

Oral antipsychotic (AP) medications are frequently prescribed to people with bipolar I disorder (BD-I). A cross-sectional online survey examined the experiences of people living with BD-I with a history of recent AP use.

METHODS

Adults with self-reported physician-diagnosed BD-I (N = 200) who received oral APs during the prior year completed a survey on AP-related experiences, including side effects and their perceived burden on social functioning, adherence, and work. Items also assessed preferences for trade-offs (balancing symptom management and side effects) when considering a hypothetical new AP. The perceived impact of specific, prevalent side effects on adherence, work, and preferences for a hypothetical AP were also examined. Analyses were descriptive.

RESULTS

The survey sample had a mean age of 43.2 (SD = 12.4) years, was 60% female, and 31% nonwhite. Almost all participants (98%) had experienced AP side effects. Common self-reported side effects were feeling drowsy or tired (83%), lack of emotion (79%), anxiety (79%), dry mouth (76%), and weight gain (76%). Weight gain was cited as the most bothersome side effect, rated by most participants (68%) as "very" or "extremely bothersome." Nearly half of participants (49%) reported that AP side effects negatively impacted their job performance; almost all (92%) reported that side effects - most commonly anxiety and lack of emotion - negatively impacted social relationships (e.g., family or romantic partners). The most commonly-reported reason for stopping AP use was dislike of side effects (48%). Side effects most likely to lead to stopping or taking less of AP treatment included "feeling like a 'zombie'" (29%), feeling drowsy or tired (25%), and weight gain (24%). When considering a hypothetical new AP, the most common side effects participants wanted to avoid included AP-induced anxiety (50%), weight gain (48%), and "feeling like a 'zombie'" (47%).

CONCLUSIONS

Side effects of APs were both common and bothersome, and impacted social functioning, adherence, and work. Findings highlight the prevailing unmet need for new APs with more favorable benefit-risk profiles.

Peripherally Physiological Responses to External Emotions and Their Transitions in Bipolar I Disorder With and Without Hypersexuality

Hypersexuality is associated with psychiatric disorders such as mania; however, it remains unclear whether bipolar I disorder with (BW) or without (BO) hypersexuality demonstrates different responses to external emotional stimuli and their transitions that were composed of pictures and sounds of same domain. In 21 BW patients, 20 BO patients, and 41 healthy volunteers, we administered polygraph tests (electrocardiogram, electromyogram, electrooculogram, and galvanic skin response) to measure transitions from a primer emotion (i.e., external disgust, erotica, fear, happiness, neutral, and sadness) to a noncongruent emotion (out of the remaining five) and to the primer emotion again (repeat-primer). We also evaluated participants' concurrent states of mania, hypomania, and depression. With neutral as the noncongruent emotion, the heart rate difference in BW was greater than in controls when responses to the primer erotica were subtracted from responses to the repeat-primer erotica, or when to the primer sadness were subtracted from the repeat-primer sadness. The difference of the masseter electromyographic activity in BW was lower than in BO and controls when responses to the noncongruent happiness were subtracted from responses to the repeat-primer neutral, and was lower than in BO when to the noncongruent neutral were subtracted from the repeat-primer erotica. The eyeball movement difference was greater in BW than in BO and controls when responses to the noncongruent sadness were subtracted from responses to the repeat-primer neutral. The heart rate difference when responses to the primer happiness were subtracted from responses to the noncongruent neutral was negatively correlated with mania in BO. BW and BO patients behaved differently to external emotions and their transitions, particularly regarding erotica and sadness, which might characterize unique pathophysiological processes of the two bipolar I disorder subtypes.

Lithium vs valproate in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder: A post- hoc analysis of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Lithium and valproate are commonly used either in monotherapy or in combination with atypical antipsychotics in maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder; however, their comparative efficacy is not well understood. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of valproate and lithium on mood stability either in monotherapy or in combination with atypical antipsychotics.

METHODS

We performed a post hoc analysis using data from a 52-week randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, that recruited 159 patients with recently remitted mania during treatment with lithium or valproate and adjunctive atypical antipsychotic therapy. Patients were randomized to discontinue adjunctive atypical antipsychotic at 0, 24 or 52 weeks.

RESULTS

No significant differences in efficacy were observed between valproate and lithium (hazard ratio: 0.99; 95% confidence interval: [0.66, 1.48]) in time to any mood event. Valproate with 24 weeks of atypical antipsychotic was significantly superior to valproate monotherapy in preventing any mood relapse (hazard ratio: 0.46; 95% confidence interval: [0.22, 0.97]) while lithium with 24 weeks of atypical antipsychotic was superior to lithium monotherapy in preventing mania (hazard ratio: 0.27; 95% confidence interval: [0.09, 0.85]) but not depression.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this study did not find significant differences in efficacy between the two mood-stabilizing agents when used as monotherapy or in combination with atypical antipsychotics. However, study design and small sample size might have precluded from detecting an effect if true difference in efficacy existed. Further head-to-head investigations with stratified designs are needed to evaluate maintenance therapies.

Visual event-related potentials in external emotional conditions in bipolar disorders I and II

OBJECTIVES

Mutual influences of cognitive and emotional functions occur in bipolar disorder, but specific alterations in relation to external emotional stimuli in bipolar I (BD I) and II (BD II) subtypes remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the effects of external emotional stimuli on cerebral attentional function in BD I and BD II.

METHODS

We tested visual oddball event-related potentials (ERPs) during various external emotional stimuli (Disgust, Fear, Erotica, Happiness, Neutral and Sadness) in 31 patients with BD I, 19 BD II and 47 healthy volunteers. Participants' concurrent affective states were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The ERP N2 latencies during Fear and Happiness were prolonged, P3 amplitudes during Disgust and Erotica were decreased in BD I; P3 amplitudes during Disgust, Erotica, Happiness and Neutral conditions were decreased in BD II. Increased frontal and parietal and decreased temporal and occipital activations were found in BD I, while increased occipital and parietal and decreased frontal and limbic activations in BD II in relation to different external emotions. ERP components were not correlated with concurrent affective states in patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Automatic attention during Happiness and Fear, and voluntary attention during Disgust and Erotica conditions were impaired in BD I; and voluntary attention during Disgust, Happiness, Erotica and Neutral conditions was impaired in BD II. Our study illustrates different patterns of visual attentional deficits associated with different external emotional stimuli in BD I and BD II.

Psychopathologic structure of bipolar disorders: exploring dimensional phenotypes, their relationships, and their associations with bipolar I and II disorders

BACKGROUND

Given its diverse disease courses and symptom presentations, multiple phenotype dimensions with different biological underpinnings are expected with bipolar disorders (BPs). In this study, we aimed to identify lifetime BP psychopathology dimensions. We also explored the differing associations with bipolar I (BP-I) and bipolar II (BP-II) disorders.

METHODS

We included a total of 307 subjects with BPs in the analysis. For the factor analysis, we chose six variables related to clinical courses, 29 indicators covering lifetime symptoms of mood episodes, and 6 specific comorbid conditions. To determine the relationships among the identified phenotypic dimensions and their effects on differentiating BP subtypes, we applied structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

We selected a six-factor solution through scree plot, Velicer's minimum average partial test, and face validity evaluations; the six factors were cyclicity, depression, atypical vegetative symptoms, elation, psychotic/irritable mania, and comorbidity. In the path analysis, five factors excluding atypical vegetative symptoms were associated with one another. Cyclicity, depression, and comorbidity had positive associations, and they correlated negatively with psychotic/irritable mania; elation showed positive correlations with cyclicity and psychotic/irritable mania. Depression, cyclicity, and comorbidity were stronger in BP-II than in BP-I, and they contributed significantly to the distinction between the two disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified six phenotype dimensions; in addition to symptom features of manic and depressive episodes, various comorbidities and high cyclicity constructed separate dimensions. Except for atypical vegetative symptoms, all factors showed a complex interdependency and played roles in discriminating BP-II from BP-I.

Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy on Executive Function, Emotional Control and Severity of Symptoms in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder

Background:

Bipolar disorder is a disabling illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania, hypomania, and depression. The dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is basically designed to help regulate excitement, tolerance of discomfort, mindfulness and interpersonal relationships. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of DBT on executive function, emotional control and symptom relief in patients with type 1 bipolar disorder.

Materials and Methods:

This clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with type 1 bipolar disorder. These patients were divided into two 25 populated groups of controls and intervention. The control group did not receive any other alternative therapy apart from routine medications, but in the intervention group, in addition to routine medications, DBT treatment was also done as complementary therapy in 12 sessions based on Dick's protocol. Then, Mania severity, emotional control and their executive functions were evaluated before and after the intervention and compared in two groups.

Results:

After the intervention, the scores of mania and depression mood with the mean of 2.12 ± 3.09 and 31.08 ± 8.98 respectively in intervention group were significantly lower than control group with the mean of 4.24 ± 4.11 and 39.92 ± 9.05 respectively (P < 0.05). Depression and executive function of the patients had no significant difference between the two groups in the post-intervention period and had a modest and non-significant change.

Conclusion:

DBT has been effective in decreasing the intensity of mania, but, it cannot be used to reduce the emotional instability and impulsivity of these patients along with drug therapy although it has improved the executive functions and depression of the patients.

sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-6 levels in bipolar disorder type I: Acute, longitudinal and therapeutic implications

OBJECTIVES

To explore the serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), with regard to acute episode characteristics, course of the disorder and treatment.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 83 patients diagnosed with BD type I. The control group consisted of 73 healthy individuals, matched with the study group according to age, gender and body mass index. The serum levels of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, significantly elevated levels of IL-6 and sICAM-1 and significantly lower levels of TNF-α and sVCAM-1 were identified in acute and remission phases of BD. The acute serum levels of sVCAM-1 were associated with the type and severity of acute mood symptoms as well as with course of illness characteristics. TNF-α was associated with duration of untreated disorder and type of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

BD is related to both acute and long-term alterations of immune mediators, including adhesion molecules. The potential immunomodulatory role of pharmacotherapeutic treatment is also to be considered in BD.

Cognitive variability in bipolar I disorder: A cluster-analytic approach informed by resting-state data

BACKGROUND

While the presence of cognitive performance deficits in bipolar disorder I (BD-I) is well established, there is no consensus about which cognitive abilities are affected. Heterogeneous phenotypes displayed in BD-I further suggest the existence of subgroups among the disorder. The present study sought to identify different cognitive profiles among BD-I patients as well as potentially underlying neuronal network changes.

METHODS

54 euthymic BD-I patients underwent cognitive testing and resting state neuroimaging. Hierarchical cluster-analysis was performed on executive function scores of bipolar patients. The derived clusters were compared against 54 age-, gender- and IQ-matched healthy controls (HC) to facilitate the interpretation of results. Further, resting state network properties were compared to identify differences probably underlying cognitive profiles.

RESULTS

A three-cluster solution emerged. Cluster 1 (n = 22) was characterized by deficits in cognitive flexibility and motor inhibition, cluster 2 (n = 12) displayed impulsive decision-making, while cluster 3 (n = 20) showed good visuospatial planning. Weaker connections in cluster 1 compared to cluster 2 were found between regions activated during tasks cluster 1 showed deficits on. Cluster 3 had a higher modularity than cluster 2, which correlated positively with problem solving performance and risk-taking in this cluster.

CONCLUSION

Obtained clusters showed distinct cognitive profiles, characterized by deficits and strengths, most of which remained precluded in a general comparison. Weaker interregional connections and separated subnetworks might underly behavioral deficits and strengths, respectively. The findings help explain the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in BD-I. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Current status of the neurobiology of aggression and impulsivity'.

The safety and tolerability of aripiprazole once-monthly as maintenance treatment for bipolar I disorder: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal study

BACKGROUND

Aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400), an atypical long-acting injectable antipsychotic, has demonstrated efficacy and safety in maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder (BP-I). We further assess safety and tolerability and characterize adverse events (AEs) across the duration of aripiprazole exposure.

METHODS

Patients with BP-I were stabilized on oral aripiprazole (2-8 weeks), AOM 400 (12-28 weeks), followed by 1:1 randomization of patients meeting stability criteria to a 52-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal phase. Treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) were collected across study phases. AEs were counted in a phase if they were drug-related and continued from the baseline of that phase. A separate analysis on new-onset akathisia was conducted.

RESULTS

Among TEAEs occurring in ≥10% of patients during all study phases were akathisia (23.3%) and weight increased (10.6%). Median time to akathisia onset was 20 days after starting oral aripiprazole; median duration was 29 days for the first occurrence; 21/168 patients (12.5%) reporting akathisia experienced >1 episode. Episodes of new-onset akathisia decreased over time, with few events reported in the randomized phase. Weight gain was minimal with oral aripiprazole, generally starting within 3 months after the first AOM 400 injection, and appearing to plateau at 36 weeks. The mean weight gain within any study phase was ≤1.0 kg. Potentially clinically significant changes in metabolic parameters were uncommon.

LIMITATIONS

Patients on placebo had AOM 400 exposure before randomization.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that AEs with AOM 400 treatment were time-limited and support AOM 400 as a well-tolerated maintenance treatment of BP-I.

Differences in Psychopathology between Offspring of Parents with Bipolar I Disorder and Those with Bipolar II Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in psychopathology between offspring of parents with bipolar I disorder (BP-I) and those with bipolar II disorder (BP-II).

METHODS

The sample included 201 offspring between 6 and 17 years of age who had at least one parent with BP-I or BP-II. The offspring were diagnostically evaluated using the Korean Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version. Psychopathology and Clinical characteristics were evaluated, including lifetime DSM-5 diagnoses, depression, and childhood trauma. Lifetime DSM-5 diagnoses were also compared between schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.

RESULTS

In lifetime DSM-5 diagnoses, offspring of parents with BP-I had significantly increased risk of developing MDD and BP-I than those with BP-II. Regarding clinical characteristics, ADHD rating scale and childhood trauma scale were significantly higher in offspring of parents with BP-I than that in those with BP-II.

CONCLUSION

The present study supports that BP-I may be etiologically distinct from BP-II by a possible genetic liability. Our findings indicate that additional research related to bipolar offspring is needed to enhance understanding of differences between BP-I and BP-II.

Specificity in Etiology of Subtypes of Bipolar Disorder: Evidence From a Swedish Population-Based Family Study

BACKGROUND

Uncertainty remains whether bipolar I disorder (BDI) and bipolar II disorder (BDII) differ etiologically. We used a population-based family sample to examine the etiological boundaries between BDI and BDII by assessing their familial aggregation/coaggregation and by assessing the coaggregation between them and schizophrenia, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorder, substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.

METHODS

By linking Swedish national registers, we established a population-based cohort (N = 15,685,511) and identified relatives with different biological relationships. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to measure the relative risk of BDI and BDII in relatives of individuals diagnosed with BDI (n = 4309) and BDII (n = 4178). The heritability for BDI and BDII and the genetic correlation across psychiatric disorders were estimated by variance decomposition analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with the general population, the OR of BDI was 17.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.1-22.0) in first-degree relatives of BDI patients, higher than that of BDII patients (OR 9.8, 95% CI 7.7-12.5). The ORs of BDII were 13.6 (95% CI 10.2-18.2) in first-degree relatives of BDII patients and 9.8 (95% CI 7.7-12.4) in relatives of BDI patients. The heritabilities for BDI and BDII were estimated at 57% (95% CI 32%-79%) and 46% (95% CI 21%-67%), respectively, with a genetic correlation estimated as 0.78 (95% CI 0.36-1.00). The familial coaggregation of other psychiatric disorders, in particular schizophrenia, showed different patterns for BDI and BDII.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a distinction between BDI and BDII in etiology, partly due to genetic differences.

Medication Adherence and Discontinuation of Aripiprazole Once-Monthly 400 mg (AOM 400) Versus Oral Antipsychotics in Patients with Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder: A Real-World Study Using US Claims Data

Introduction

Few studies have compared adherence between long-acting injectable antipsychotics, especially for newer agents like aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400; aripiprazole monohydrate) and oral antipsychotics, in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (BD-I) in a real-world setting.

Methods

Two separate retrospective cohort analyses using Truven MarketScan data from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2016 were conducted to compare medication adherence and discontinuation in patients with schizophrenia or BD-I who initiated treatment with AOM 400 vs. patients changed from one oral antipsychotic monotherapy to another. Adherence was defined as proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥ 0.80 in the year following the index date. Linear regression models examined the association between AOM 400 and oral antipsychotic cohorts and medication adherence. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression estimated time to and risk of discontinuation, while adjusting for baseline covariates. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using a combination of propensity score matching and exact matching to create matched cohorts.

Results

Final cohort sizes were as follows—Schizophrenia: AOM 400 n = 408, oral antipsychotic n = 3361; BD-I: AOM 400 n = 413, oral antipsychotic n = 15,534. In patients with schizophrenia, adjusted mean PDC was higher in patients in the AOM 400 cohort vs. the oral antipsychotic cohort (0.57 vs. 0.48 P < 0.001), and patients in the oral antipsychotic cohort had a higher risk of discontinuing treatment vs. the AOM 400 cohort (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.29–1.64). For patients with BD-I, adjusted mean PDC was higher for the AOM 400 cohort (0.59 vs. 0.44, P < 0.001), and patients in the oral antipsychotic cohort had a higher risk of discontinuation (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.53–1.92).

Conclusions

In a real-word setting, AOM 400 resulted in a significantly higher percentage of patients with a PDC ≥ 0.80 and significantly longer time to treatment discontinuation compared to patients with schizophrenia or BD-I who received treatment with an oral antipsychotic.

Funding

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc. and Lundbeck.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-018-0785-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aripiprazole once-monthly as maintenance treatment for bipolar I disorder: a 52-week, multicenter, open-label study

Background

The long-acting injectable antipsychotic aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400) was recently approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder (BP-I). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of AOM 400 as long-term maintenance treatment for BP-I.

Methods

This open-label multicenter study evaluated the effectiveness of AOM 400 as maintenance treatment for BP-I by assessing safety and tolerability (primary objective) and efficacy (secondary objective). The study enrolled AOM 400-naive (“de novo”) patients as well as AOM 400-experienced (“rollover”) patients with BP-I from a lead-in randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that demonstrated the efficacy of AOM 400 in the maintenance treatment of BP-I (Calabrese et al. in J Clin Psychiatry 78:324–331, 2017). Safety variables included frequency and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and TEAEs resulting in study discontinuation. Efficacy was assessed by the proportion of patients maintaining stability throughout the maintenance phase, as well as mean changes from baseline in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impressions for Bipolar Disorder–Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-BP-S) total scores. Patient acceptability and tolerability of treatment was assessed using the Patient Satisfaction with Medication Questionnaire-Modified.

Results

Of 464 patients entering the maintenance phase, 379 (82%) were de novo and 85 (18%) were rollover. TEAEs were more common in de novo than rollover patients. The overall discontinuation rate due to TEAEs was 10.3% (48/464). Improvements in YMRS and CGI-BP-S total scores were maintained during the study, and the vast majority of both de novo (87.0%) and rollover (97.6%) patients maintained stability through their last visit. Overall, the need for rescue medication during the maintenance phase was minimal (< 10% of patients). Patient satisfaction levels were high, with both de novo and rollover patients rating the side effect burden of AOM 400 as greatly improved relative to previous medications.

Conclusion

AOM 400 was safe, effective, and well tolerated by both de novo and AOM 400-experienced patients with BP-I for long-term maintenance treatment.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01710709

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s40345-018-0122-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

PLACID study: A randomized trial comparing the efficacy and safety of inhaled loxapine versus intramuscular aripiprazole in acutely agitated patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of inhaled loxapine compared with the intramuscular (IM) antipsychotic aripiprazole in acutely agitated patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. PLACID was an assessor-blind, parallel-group trial conducted in 23 centres in the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and Russia. Patients (aged 18-65 years) diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder experiencing acute agitation (Clinical Global Impression [CGI]-Severity score ≥ 4) while hospitalized or attending an emergency room were randomized to receive up to two doses of inhaled loxapine 9.1 mg or IM aripiprazole 9.75 mg (≥ 2 h between doses) during the 24-h study period. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to response (CGI-Improvement score 1 [very much improved] or 2 [much improved]). The primary analysis included randomized patients who provided informed consent (full analysis set [FAS]); the safety analysis included all patients who received study medication. The FAS comprised 357 patients (enrolled December 2, 2014 - October 31, 2016). The between-treatment difference in median time to CGI-Improvement response was 10 min (95% CI 0.0-30.0); p = 0.0005) in favour of inhaled loxapine (median [95% CI]: 50 min [30.0-50.0] vs 60 min [50.0-90.0] with IM aripiprazole); the difference was significant at 10 min (responders: 14% [loxapine] vs 4% [aripiprazole]; p = 0.001). There were no safety issues. Inhaled loxapine reduced agitation faster than IM aripiprazole, supporting its use as a first-line option for managing acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Comparison of Efficiency GEE and QIF Methods for Predicting Factors Affecting on Bipolar I Disorder Under Complete-case in a Longitudinal Studies

BACKGROUND

Mood variation in manic and depression phases during time is common in type I of Bipolar disorder. Analyzing recurrence require to the related statistical methods. In this paper, we compare the two methods of estimating the GEE and the QIF in recurrence data.

METHODS

In this study, data of 255 patients with Bipolar I disorder hospitalized during years of 2007-2011. Recurrence in Bipolar I disorder was as outcome. Patients' characteristics were gender, age of onset, recurrence history in first degree family, and economic status. Under simulation, percentage of missing were generated to vary and handled by complete-case(cc) strategy. Data were analyzed using GEE and QIF methods. Performance of the methods was assessed using Relative Efficiency.

RESULTS

QIF method had more efficiency than GEE method in the data with missing /without missing. Odds of recurrence in a first-degree family history was 30% more than those without a family history (p=0.009). Also, odds of recurrence in high/moderate level of economic status was 23% more than low level status (p=0.014).

CONCLUSION

QIF method was more appropriated for modeling recurrence during time with the structure of more correlation and low dropout rate in data. Family history and economic status were more affected recurrence in type I of Bipolar disorder.

Exon Array Biomarkers for the Differential Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

This study developed potential blood-based biomarker tests for diagnosing and differentiating schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder type I (BD), and normal control (NC) subjects using mRNA gene expression signatures. A total of 90 subjects (n = 30 each for the three groups of subjects) provided blood samples at two visits. The Affymetrix exon microarray was used to profile the expression of over 1.4 million probesets. We selected potential biomarker panels using the temporal stability of the probesets and also back-tested them at two different visits for each subject. The 18-gene biomarker panels, using logistic regression modeling, correctly differentiated the three groups of subjects with high accuracy across the two different clinical visits (83-88% accuracy). The results are also consistent with the actual data and the "leave-one-out" analyses, indicating that the models should be predictive when applied to independent data cohorts. Many of the SZ and BD subjects were taking antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medications at the time of blood draw, raising the possibility that these drugs could have affected some of the differential transcription signatures. Using an independent Illumina data set of gene expression data from antipsychotic medication-free SZ subjects, the 18-gene biomarker panels produced a receiver operating characteristic curve accuracy greater than 0.866 in patients that were less than 30 years of age and medication free. We confirmed select transcripts by quantitative PCR and the nCounter® System. The episodic nature of psychiatric disorders might lead to highly variable results depending on when blood is collected in relation to the severity of the disease/symptoms. We have found stable trait gene panel markers for lifelong psychiatric disorders that may have diagnostic utility in younger undiagnosed subjects where there is a critical unmet need. The study requires replication in subjects for ultimate proof of the utility of the differential diagnosis.

Symptoms and functioning with aripiprazole once-monthly injection as maintenance treatment for bipolar I disorder

BACKGROUND

Effects of maintenance treatment with aripiprazole once-monthly 400mg (AOM 400) on symptoms and functioning were assessed in adults with bipolar I disorder (BP-I) after a manic episode.

METHODS

Patients were stabilized on oral aripiprazole, cross-titrated to AOM 400, then randomized in a 52-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, withdrawal phase. Prespecified secondary outcomes are reported: time to hospitalization for mood episode, Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Clinical Global Impression-Bipolar scale, Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), and Brief Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder questionnaire. Time to hospitalization for mood episode was analyzed using log-rank test and changes from baseline using mixed model for repeated measures or analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

AOM 400 significantly increased time to hospitalization for any mood episode versus placebo (P=0.0002). YMRS total scores decreased with oral aripiprazole; improvements were maintained with AOM 400. After randomization, YMRS scores changed little with AOM 400 but worsened with placebo (P=0.0016), and MADRS scores, already low at trial initiation, did not differ between groups. FAST score improvements were maintained with AOM 400 but not placebo (P=0.0287).

LIMITATIONS

Results are generalizable to patients with BP-I stabilized on aripiprazole following a manic episode.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BP-I experiencing an acute manic episode exhibited symptomatic and functional improvements during stabilization with oral aripiprazole and AOM 400 that were maintained with continued AOM 400 treatment but not placebo. AOM 400 is the first once-monthly long-acting injectable antipsychotic to demonstrate efficacy in maintenance treatment of the manic phase of BP-I.

The relative influence of individual risk factors for attempted suicide in patients with bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder

OBJECTIVES

To compare the relative influence (RI) of individual predictors for lifetime attempted suicide between adults with bipolar I (BDBD-I) and bipolar II disorder (BDBD-II).

METHODS

We conducted an analysis of data from 1465 enrollees in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Disorder Biobank. Demographic and clinical variables and history of attempted suicide were ascertained using standardized questionnaires. Height and weight were assessed to determine body mass index (BMI); obesity was defined as BMI ≥30kg/m². The frequencies of these variables were compared between persons with and without self-reported lifetime suicide attempts both overall, and within BD-I and BD-II subgroups. Gradient boosting machine (GBM) models were used to quantify the RI of study variables on the risk of lifetime attempted suicide.

RESULTS

Nearly one-third of patients reported having a lifetime suicide attempt. Attempted suicide rates were higher in patients with BD-I than BD-II, but absolute differences were small. Lifetime attempted suicide was associated with female sex, BD-I subtype, psychiatric and substance use comorbidities, binge eating behavior, lifetime history of rapid cycling, other indicators of adverse illness course, and early age of bipolar illness onset in the entire cohort. Differences in the rank-ordering of RI for predictors of attempted suicide between BD-I and BD-II patients were modest. Rapid cycling was a strong risk factor for attempted suicide, particularly in men with BD-I.

LIMITATIONS

Actively psychotic or suicidal patients needing psychiatric hospitalization were initially excluded, but were approached after these acute psychiatric problems resolved.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of lifetime attempted suicide was significantly higher in BD-I than BD-II in this large, cross-sectional cohort. Predictors of attempted suicide were similar in BD-I and BD-II subgroups.

Structural characteristics of the brain reward circuit regions in patients with bipolar I disorder: A voxel-based morphometric study

Bipolar I disorder (BD-I) is often misdiagnosed, leading to inadequate treatment and significant disability along with reduced quality of life. Recent neural models suggest that the reward circuitry is affected in bipolar disorder. The purpose of the present study was to identify structural abnormalities in the brain reward-processing neural circuitry among patients with BD-I. 21 patients with BD-I and 21 healthy controls (HC) participated in this study. Structural magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Region-of-interest (ROI) voxel-based morphometry analysis was applied to assess the presence of structural changes between the BD-I patient group and the control group. The results of the reward circuitry ROI analysis revealed lower gray matter volumes in the left ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in patients with BD-I compared to HC. Our results suggest that abnormalities in the brain reward-processing neural circuitry, especially those in the left VMPFC, left DMPFC, and left VLPFC, may play an important role in the pathophysiology of BD-I.

Comparison of metabolic syndrome prevalence in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder

Research has shown that the metabolic syndrome is more prevalent among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. Given the scarcity of research on the disorders, this paper aims to compare the prevalence of the syndrome among the two groups of patients.

METHODS

A total of 120 individuals participated in this cross sectional study: 60 patients with schizophrenia (26 males and 34 females) and 60 patients with bipolar I disorder (32 males and 28 females). The psychological disorders were diagnosed by some experienced psychiatrists according to the DSM-V. Furthermore, metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to ATP III guidelines.

RESULTS

Metabolic syndrome prevalence among schizophrenic and bipolar I patients was 28 and 36 percent, respectively; the disparity in prevalence is not significant. According to the results, compared to their male counterparts, females were more prone significant to metabolic syndrome. Moreover, diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher among bipolar I patients. On the other hand, schizophrenic males were observed to have higher fasting blood sugar levels in comparison to bipolar I males patients. Age, consumption of second generation antipsychotics or antidepressants, and the duration of the disorder were found to be related to metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that metabolic syndrome is not more prevalent among bipolar I patients, compared to those with schizophrenia. Also, women are more likely to be affected by the syndrome. A number of factors such as age, consumption of medication, and duration of the disorder are associated with the likelihood of the syndrome.

Do not treat the numbers: lithium toxicity

We describe the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of bipolar disorder, previously stable on lithium for over 20 years, who presented with a manic relapse and signs of lithium toxicity in the form of a coarse tremor. Serum lithium levels were in the normal range, and the patient had stage 3 chronic kidney disease. He was admitted for treatment under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act, and after stopping lithium was started on olanzapine. Signs of lithium toxicity improved after withdrawal of lithium. This case highlights the need to treat normal serum lithium levels with caution in patients showing signs of clinical lithium toxicity.

Comparison of associated features and drug treatment between co-occurring unipolar and bipolar disorders in depressed eating disorder patients

BACKGROUND

To examine the differences of associated characteristics and prescription drug use between co-occurring unipolar and bipolar disorders in patients with eating disorders (EDs).

METHODS

Patients with EDs and major depressive episode (MDE) were recruited from psychiatric outpatient clinics. They were interviewed and completed self-administered measures assessing eating and general psychopathology. The prescribed drugs at the index outpatient visit were recorded. Clinical characteristics and prescription drugs of groups with major depressive disorder (ED-MDD), MDE with lifetime mania (ED-BP I), and MDE with lifetime hypomania (ED-BP II) were compared. Continuous variables between groups were compared using generalized linear regression with adjustments of age, gender, and ED subtype for pair-wise comparisons. Multivariate logistic regression with adjustments of age, gender, and ED subtype was employed to estimate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals between groups.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twenty-seven patients with EDs had a current MDE. Among them, 17.2% and 24.2% experienced associated manic and hypomanic episodes, respectively. Bipolar I and II patients displayed significantly poorer weight regulation, more severe impulsivity and emotional lability, and higher rates of co-occurring alcohol use disorders than ED-MDD patients. ED-BP I patients were found to have the lowest IQ, poorest working memory, and the most severe depression, suicidality and functional impairment among all patients. Patients with ED-BP II shared affect and behavioral dysregulations with ED-BP I, but had less severe degrees of cognitive and functional impairments than ED-BP I. Patients with ED-BP I were significantly less likely than those in the ED-MDD and ED-BP II groups to be on antidepressant monotherapy, but a great rate (27%) of ED-BP I individuals taking antidepressant monotherapy had potential risk of mood switch during the course of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified discriminative features of bipolar I and II disorders from MDD among a group of depressed ED patients. We suggest that the associated mania, hypomania, and mood lability are predictors of clinical severity and should be identified from ED patients presented with depressive features. Accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorders may have implications for pharmacotherapy in patients with EDs.

Differences in clinical presentation between bipolar I and II disorders in the early stages of bipolar disorder: A naturalistic study

AIM

In a naturalistic clinical study of patients in the early stages of bipolar disorders the aim was to assess differences between patients with bipolar I (BD I) and bipolar II (BD II) disorders on clinical characteristics including affective symptoms, subjective cognitive complaints, functional level, the presence of comorbid personality disorders and coping strategies.

METHODS

Diagnoses were confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders. Clinical symptoms were rated with the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and functional status using the Functional Assessment Short Test. Cognitive complaints were assessed using the Massachusetts General Hospital Cognitive and Physical Functioning Questionnaire, the presence of comorbid personality disorders using the Standardized Assessment of Personality - Abbreviated Scale and coping style using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations.

RESULTS

In total, 344 patients were included (BD I (n=163) and BD II (n=181). Patients with BD II presented with significantly more depressive symptoms, more cognitive complaints, lower overall functioning, and a higher prevalence of comorbid personality disorders. Finally, they exhibited a trend towards using less adaptive coping styles.

LIMITATION

It cannot be omitted that some patients may have progressed from BD II to BD I. Most measures were based on patient self report.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, BD II was associated with a higher disease burden. Clinically, it is important to differentiate BD II from BD I and research wise, there is a need for tailoring and testing specific interventions towards BD II.

Emotional intelligence and non-social cognition in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder

BACKGROUND

The different patterns of Emotional Intelligence (EI) deficits in schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder are are not yet well understood. This study compares EI levels among these groups and highlights the potential impact of non-social cognition on EI.

METHOD

Fifty-eight schizophrenia and 60 bipolar outpatients were investigated using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Analyses of covariance were performed with adjustment for the BACS composite score.

RESULTS

Compared to bipolar subjects, schizophrenia patients showed significantly lower levels in both EI and non-social cognition. After adjustment for the BACS composite score, the difference in EI was lost. The mediation analysis revealed that differences between schizophrenia and bipolar patients in strategic EI are almost fully attributable to the mediating effect of non-social cognition.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that in both schizophrenia and bipolar patients EI is strongly influenced by non-social cognitive functioning. This has to be taken into account when interpreting MSCEIT data in comparative studies in serious mental illness and emphasizes the importance of cognitive remediation.

Epidemiology of DSM-5 bipolar I disorder: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions - III

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to present 12-month and lifetime prevalence, correlates, comorbidity, treatment and disability of DSM-5 bipolar I disorder.

METHODS

Nationally representative U.S. adult sample (N = 36,309), the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions - III.

RESULTS

Prevalences of 12-month and lifetime DSM-5 bipolar I disorder were 1.5% and 2.1% and did not differ between men (1.6% and 2.2%) and women (1.5% and 2.0%). Prevalences of bipolar I disorder were greater among Native Americans, and lower among Blacks, Hispanics and Asians/Pacific Islanders than whites. Rates were also lower among younger than older individuals, those previously married than currently married and with lower education and income relative to higher education and income. Bipolar I disorder was more strongly related to borderline and schizotypal personality disorders (adjusted odds ratios (AORS) = 2.2-4.7)), than to anxiety disorders (AORs = 1.3-2.9), and substance use disorders (AORs = 1.3-2.1) overall and among men and women. Quality of life was lower among individuals with bipolar I disorder relative to those without the disorder. Treatment rates among individuals with bipolar I disorder were low in the total sample (46%, SE = 2.63), among men (36.7%, SE = 3.82) and among women (55.8%, SE = 3.32).

CONCLUSIONS

Bipolar I disorder continues to be common disabling and highly comorbid disorder among men and women, contributing substantially to low quality of life and burden of disease in our society.

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.