Couples Therapy for Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Intimate partner violence is a serious public health problem accompanied by substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite its documented impact on health, there is no widely recognized treatment of choice. Some studies indicate that couples suffering from situational violence may benefit from couples therapy, but professionals are cautious to risk the possibility of violent retaliation between partners. After a comprehensive literature search of 1,733 citations, this systematic review and meta-analysis compiles the results of six studies to investigate the effectiveness of couples therapy as a treatment for violence. Preliminary data suggest that couples therapy is a viable treatment in select situations.

Retrospective age-of-onset and projected lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders among U.S. Army National Guard soldiers

BACKGROUND

The study of military-related mental health has been disproportionately focused on current symptomology rather than potentially more informative life course mental health. Indeed, no study has assessed age-of-onset and projected lifetime prevalence of disorders among reservists.

METHODS

Age-of-onset and projected lifetime DSM-IV anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders were assessed in 671 Ohio Army National Guard soldiers aged 17-60 years. Between 2008 and 2012, face-to-face clinical assessments and surveys were conducted using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale.

RESULTS

Lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 61%. Alcohol abuse/dependence (44%) and major depressive disorder (23%) were the most common disorders. The majority (64%) of participants reported disorders antedating enlistment. Median age-of-onset varied with anxiety disorders - particularly phobias and OCD - having the earliest (median=15 years) and mood disorders the latest median age-of-onset (median=21 years).

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by both the retrospective investigation of age-of-onset and the location of our sample. As our sample may not represent the general military population, our findings need to be confirmed in additional samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Each psychiatric disorder exhibited a distinct age-of-onset pattern, such that phobias and OCD onset earliest, substance use disorders onset during a short interval from late-adolescence to early-adulthood, and mood disorders onset the latest. Our finding that the majority of participants reported disorders antedating enlistment suggests that an assessment of lifetime psychopathology is essential to understanding the mental health burden of both current and former military personnel.

Incidence and Risk for Mood and Anxiety Disorders in a Representative Sample of Ohio Army National Guard Members, 2008-2012

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the incidence of first-onset psychiatric disorders among Ohio Army National Guard members and the sociodemographic and military factors associated with these incident disorders. We aimed to identify potential risk factors and mitigating factors for a range of psychiatric disorders in a representative military sample.

METHODS

We analyzed data on a representative sample of 528 Ohio Army National Guard members who were assessed in person annually for first-onset psychiatric disorders from 2008 through 2012 using structured clinical interviews. We used a multivariable discrete-time Cox proportional hazard model to determine risk factors of first-onset anxiety or mood disorders.

RESULTS

The annualized incidence rate of any first-onset psychiatric disorder was 9.8 per 100 person-years at risk. Alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder had the highest incidence rates among the unique disorders under study (5.0 and 4.2 per 100 person-years at risk, respectively). We found an association between respondents endorsing past-year deployment and a 29% increase in the risk of incident anxiety or mood disorder, whereas the past-year experience of any non-deployment traumatic event was associated with a 32% increase in risk of incident anxiety or mood disorder.

CONCLUSION

Soldiers experience a substantial burden of first-onset alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder annually; the experience of non-deployment-related traumatic events contributes substantially to increasing risk, suggesting that any effort aimed at mitigating mood and anxiety disorders in this population must consider the soldier's life experience and military experience.

The Pharmacogenomics of Bipolar Disorder study (PGBD): identification of genes for lithium response in a prospective sample

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder is a serious and common psychiatric disorder characterized by manic and depressive mood switches and a relapsing and remitting course. The cornerstone of clinical management is stabilization and prophylaxis using mood-stabilizing medications to reduce both manic and depressive symptoms. Lithium remains the gold standard of treatment with the strongest data for both efficacy and suicide prevention. However, many patients do not respond to this medication, and clinically there is a great need for tools to aid the clinician in selecting the correct treatment. Large genome wide association studies (GWAS) investigating retrospectively the effect of lithium response are in the pipeline; however, few large prospective studies on genetic predictors to of lithium response have yet been conducted. The purpose of this project is to identify genes that are associated with lithium response in a large prospective cohort of bipolar patients and to better understand the mechanism of action of lithium and the variation in the genome that influences clinical response.

METHODS/DESIGN

This study is an 11-site prospective non-randomized open trial of lithium designed to ascertain a cohort of 700 subjects with bipolar I disorder who experience protocol-defined relapse prevention as a result of treatment with lithium monotherapy. All patients will be diagnosed using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS) and will then enter a 2-year follow-up period on lithium monotherapy if and when they exhibit a score of 1 (normal, not ill), 2 (minimally ill) or 3 (mildly ill) on the Clinical Global Impressions of Severity Scale for Bipolar Disorder (CGI-S-BP Overall Bipolar Illness) for 4 of the 5 preceding weeks. Lithium will be titrated as clinically appropriate, not to exceed serum levels of 1.2 mEq/L. The sample will be evaluated longitudinally using a wide range of clinical scales, cognitive assessments and laboratory tests. On relapse, patients will be discontinued or crossed-over to treatment with valproic acid (VPA) or treatment as usual (TAU). Relapse is defined as a DSM-IV manic, major depressive or mixed episode or if the treating physician decides a change in medication is clinically necessary. The sample will be genotyped for GWAS. The outcome for lithium response will be analyzed as a time to event, where the event is defined as clinical relapse, using a Cox Proportional Hazards model. Positive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from past genetic retrospective studies of lithium response, the Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen), will be tested in this prospective study sample; a meta-analysis of these samples will then be performed. Finally, neurons will be derived from pluripotent stem cells from lithium responders and non-responders and tested in vivo for response to lithium by gene expression studies. SNPs in genes identified in these cellular studies will also be tested for association to response.

DISCUSSION

Lithium is an extraordinarily important therapeutic drug in the clinical management of patients suffering from bipolar disorder. However, a significant proportion of patients, 30-40 %, fail to respond, and there is currently no method to identify the good lithium responders before initiation of treatment. Converging evidence suggests that genetic factors play a strong role in the variation of response to lithium, but only a few genes have been tested and the samples have largely been retrospective or quite small. The current study will collect an entirely unique sample of 700 patients with bipolar disorder to be stabilized on lithium monotherapy and followed for up to 2 years. This study will produce useful information to improve the understanding of the mechanism of action of lithium and will add to the development of a method to predict individual response to lithium, thereby accelerating recovery and reducing suffering and cost.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01272531 Registered: January 6, 2011.

An 8-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Cariprazine in Patients With Bipolar I Depression

OBJECTIVE

The authors evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cariprazine, an atypical antipsychotic candidate, in adult patients with acute bipolar I depression.

METHOD

This was an 8-week multinational, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed-dose study in adult patients with bipolar I disorder experiencing a current major depressive episode. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to receive placebo or cariprazine at 0.75, 1.5, or 3.0 mg/day. The primary and secondary efficacy parameters were change from baseline to week 6 on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Clinical Global Impressions severity subscale (CGI-S), respectively, analyzed using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures on the modified intent-to-treat population.

RESULTS

The intent-to-treat population comprised 571 patients (141 in the placebo group and 140, 145, and 145 in the cariprazine 0.75-, 1.5-, and 3.0-mg/day groups). Cariprazine at 1.5 mg/day showed significantly greater improvement on MADRS total score change from baseline to week 6 compared with placebo; the least squares mean difference was -4.0 (95% CI=-6.3, -1.6; significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons). Cariprazine at 3.0 mg/day showed greater MADRS score reduction than placebo (-2.5, 95% CI=-4.9, -0.1; not significant when adjusted for multiple comparisons). The 0.75 mg/day dosage was similar to placebo. A similar pattern for significance was observed on the CGI-S (1.5 mg/day: least squares mean difference=-0.4, 95% CI=-0.6, -0.1; 3.0 mg/day: -0.3, 95% CI=-0.5, -0.0). The most common adverse events (≥10%) in cariprazine-treated patients were akathisia and insomnia; weight gain was slightly higher with cariprazine than with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Cariprazine at 1.5 mg/day demonstrated consistent efficacy compared with placebo across outcomes and was generally well tolerated, suggesting efficacy for the treatment of bipolar I depression.

A tool to predict suicidal ideation and behavior in bipolar disorder: The Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report

BACKGROUND

Few brief, self-report measures exist that can reliably predict adverse suicidality outcomes in patients with BD. This study utilized the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report (CHRT) to assess suicidality in patients with BD and examined its psychometric performance, clinical correlates, and prospective value in predicting adverse events related to suicidality.

METHODS

The CHRT was administered at baseline and follow-up to 482 adult patients in Bipolar CHOICE, a 6-month randomized comparative effectiveness trial. The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) was used at baseline to assess lifetime history of suicide attempts and related behaviors. Clinician-rated measures of mood (Bipolar Inventory of Symptoms Scale) and bipolar symptoms (Clinical Global Impressions-Bipolar Version) were conducted at baseline and follow-up.

RESULTS

The CHRT showed excellent internal consistency and construct validity and was highly correlated with clinician ratings of depression, anxiety, and overall functioning at baseline and throughout the study. Baseline CHRT scores significantly predicted risk of subsequent suicidality-related Serious Adverse Events (sSAEs), after controlling for mood and comorbidity. Specifically, the hazard of a sSAE increased by 76% for every 10-point increase in baseline CHRT score. Past history of suicide attempts and related behaviors, as assessed by the CSSRS, did not predict subsequent sSAEs.

LIMITATIONS

The CSSRS was used to assess static risk factors in terms of past suicidal behaviors and may have been a more powerful predictor over longer-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The CHRT offers a quick and robust self-report tool for assessing suicidal risk and has important implications for future research and clinical practice.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of Quetiapine-XR Monotherapy or Adjunctive Therapy to Antidepressant in Acute Major Depressive Disorder with Current Generalized Anxiety Disorder

OBJECTIVES

To pilot efficacy and safety data of quetiapine-XR monotherapy or adjunctive therapy to antidepressant(s) in the acute treatment of MDD with current generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

METHODS

The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to ascertain the diagnosis of DSM-IV Axis I disorders. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to quetiapine-XR or placebo for up to 8 weeks. Changes from baseline to endpoint in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 items (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology-16 items Self-Report (QIDS-16-SR) total scores, and other outcome measures were analyzed with the last observation carried forward strategy and/or mixed-effects modeling for repeated measures.

RESULTS

Of the 34 patients screened, 23 patients were randomized to receive quetiapine-XR (n = 11) or placebo (n = 12), with 5 and 4 completing the study, respectively. The mean dose of quetiapine-XR was 154 ± 91 mg/d. The change from baseline to endpoint in the total scores of HAMD-17, HAM-A, QIDS-16-SR, and CGI-S were significant in the quetiapine-XR group, but only the change in HAM-A total score was significant in the placebo group. The differences in these changes between the two groups were only significant in CGI-S scores, with the rest of numerical larger in the quetiapine-XR group. The most common side effects from quetiapine-XR were dry mouth, somnolence/sedation, and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study, quetiapine-XR was numerically superior to placebo in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with MDD and current GAD. Large sample studies are warranted to support or refute these preliminary findings.

A randomized, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial of adjunctive topiramate for alcohol use disorders in bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Topiramate is effective for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) among non-psychiatric patients. We examined topiramate for treating comorbid AUDs in bipolar disorder (BD).

METHODS

Twelve participants were randomized to topiramate or placebo for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

The topiramate group, with two out of five participants (40%) completing treatment, experienced less improvement in drinking patterns than the placebo group, with five out of seven participants (71%) completing treatment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Topiramate did not improve drinking behavior and was not well-tolerated. This study failed to recruit adequately. Problems surrounding high attrition, a small study sample, and missing data preclude interpretation of study findings.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate for AUDs in BD.

Obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, negatively affects outcome in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

Examine the effects of obesity and metabolic syndrome on outcome in bipolar disorder.

METHOD

The Comparative Effectiveness of a Second Generation Antipsychotic Mood Stabilizer and a Classic Mood Stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder (Bipolar CHOICE) study randomized 482 participants with bipolar disorder in a 6-month trial comparing lithium- and quetiapine-based treatment. Baseline variables were compared between groups with and without obesity, with and without abdominal obesity, and with and without metabolic syndrome respectively. The effects of baseline obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome on outcomes were examined using mixed effects linear regression models.

RESULTS

At baseline, 44.4% of participants had obesity, 48.0% had abdominal obesity, and 27.3% had metabolic syndrome; neither obesity, nor abdominal obesity, nor metabolic syndrome were associated with increased global severity, mood symptoms, or suicidality, or with poorer functioning or life satisfaction. Treatment groups did not differ on prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, or metabolic syndrome. By contrast, among the entire cohort, obesity was associated with less global improvement and less improvement in total mood and depressive symptoms, suicidality, functioning, and life satisfaction after 6 months of treatment. Abdominal obesity was associated with similar findings. Metabolic syndrome had no effect on outcome.

CONCLUSION

Obesity and abdominal obesity, but not metabolic syndrome, were associated with less improvement after 6 months of lithium- or quetiapine-based treatment.

Baseline disability and poor functioning in bipolar disorder predict worse outcomes: results from the Bipolar CHOICE study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of treatment on functioning impairments and quality of life and assess baseline functioning and employment status as predictors of treatment response in symptomatic individuals from the Bipolar Clinical Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness (Bipolar CHOICE) study.

METHOD

Bipolar CHOICE was an 11-site, 6-month randomized effectiveness study comparing lithium to quetiapine, each with adjunctive personalized treatments (APTs). We examined post hoc (1) the effects of treatment on functioning, (2) how changes in functioning differed between treatment responders and nonresponders, and (3) whether functioning and employment status mediated treatment response in 482 participants with DSM-IV-TR bipolar I or II disorder from September 2010 to September 2013.

RESULTS

Treatment was associated with significant improvements in functioning and quality of life, regardless of treatment group (P values < .0001). Responders showed greater improvements in quality of life (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire P values < .05) and functioning (Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation-Range of Impaired Functioning Tool P values < .05) than nonresponders. Unemployed or disabled participants at baseline had significantly greater illness severity at baseline than employed participants (P values < .05). Over the study duration, employed participants reported greater improvements in physical health and quality of life in leisure activities than both unemployed and disabled participants (P values < .05). Individuals who saw greater improvement in functioning and quality of life tended to show greater improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms (P values ≤ .0001), as well as overall illness severity (P values < .001). Early (8 weeks) and very early (4 weeks) clinical changes in mood symptoms predicted changes in functioning and quality of life at 6 months (P values < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prior disability status was associated with a worse treatment response and prospective illness course. Results implicate functioning and employment status as important markers of illness severity and likelihood of recovery in bipolar disorder, suggesting that interventions that target functional impairment may improve outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier for the Bipolar CHOICE study: NCT01331304.

Bipolar CHOICE (Clinical Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness): a pragmatic 6-month trial of lithium versus quetiapine for bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder is among the 10 most disabling medical conditions worldwide. While lithium has been used extensively for bipolar disorder since the 1970s, second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) have supplanted lithium since 1998. To date, no randomized comparative-effectiveness study has compared lithium and any SGA.

METHOD

Within the duration of the study (September 2010-September 2013), participants with bipolar I or II disorder (DSM-IV-TR) were randomized for 6 months to receive lithium (n = 240) or quetiapine (n = 242). Lithium and quetiapine were combined with other medications for bipolar disorder consistent with typical clinical practice (adjunctive personalized treatment [APT], excluding any SGA for the lithium + APT group and excluding lithium or any other SGA for the quetiapine + APT group). Coprimary outcome measures included Clinical Global Impressions-Efficacy Index (CGI-EI) and necessary clinical adjustments, which measured number of changes in adjunctive personalized treatment. Secondary measures included a full range of symptoms, cardiovascular risk, functioning, quality of life, suicidal ideation and behavior, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Participants improved across all measures, and over 20% had a sustained response. Primary (CGI-EI, P = .59; necessary clinical adjustments, P = .15) and secondary outcome changes were not statistically significantly different between the 2 groups. For participants with greater manic/hypomanic symptoms, CGI-EI changes were significantly more favorable with quetiapine + APT (P = .02). Among those with anxiety, the lithium + APT group had fewer necessary clinical adjustments per month (P = .02). Lithium was better tolerated than quetiapine in terms of the burden of side effects frequency (P = .05), intensity (P = .01), and impairment (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite adequate power to detect clinically meaningful differences, we found outcomes with lithium + APT and quetiapine + APT were not significantly different across 6 months of treatment for bipolar disorder.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier for the Bipolar CHOICE study: NCT01331304.

A clinical measure of suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, and associated symptoms in bipolar disorder: Psychometric properties of the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report (CHRT-SR)

OBJECTIVE

People with bipolar disorder are at high risk of suicide, but no clinically useful scale has been validated in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties in bipolar disorder of the 7- and 12-item versions of the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report (CHRT-SR), a scale measuring suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, and associated symptoms.

METHODS

The CHRT was administered to 283 symptomatic outpatients with bipolar I or II disorder who were randomized to receive lithium plus optimized personalized treatment (OPT), or OPT without lithium in a six month longitudinal comparative effectiveness trial. Participants were assessed using structured diagnostic interviews, clinician-rated assessments, and self-report questionnaires.

RESULTS

The internal consistency (Cronbach α) was 0.80 for the 7-item CHRT-SR and 0.90 for the 12-item CHRT-SR with a consistent factor structure, and three independent factors (current suicidal thoughts and plans, hopelessness, and perceived lack of social support) for the 7-item version. CHRT-SR scores are correlated with measures of depression, functioning, and quality of life, but not with mania scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The 7- and 12-item CHRT-SR both had excellent psychometric properties in a sample of symptomatic subjects with bipolar disorder. The scale is highly correlated with depression, functioning, and quality of life, but not with mania. Future research is needed to determine whether the CHRT-SR will be able to predict suicide attempts in clinical practice.

Mental Health Over Time in a Military Sample: The Impact of Alcohol Use Disorder on Trajectories of Psychopathology After Deployment

To identify trajectories of depression and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom groups after deployment and determine the effect of alcohol use disorder on these trajectories, depression symptoms were modeled using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire in 727 Ohio National Guard members, and PTS symptoms were modeled using the PTSD Checklist in 472 Ohio National Guard members. There were 55.8% who were resistant to depression symptoms across the 4 years of study, and 41.5% who were resistant to PTS symptoms. There were 18.7% and 42.2% of participants who showed resilience (experiencing slightly elevated symptoms followed by a decline, according to Bonanno et al., 2002) to depression and PTS symptoms, respectively. Mild and chronic dysfunction constituted the smallest trajectory groups across disorders. Marital status, deployment to an area of conflict, and number of lifetime stressors were associated with membership into different latent groups for depression (unstandardized β estimates range = 0.69 to 1.37). Deployment to an area of conflict, number of lifetime traumatic events and education predicted membership into different latent groups for PTS (significant unstandardized β estimate range = 0.83 to 3.17). AUD was associated with an increase in both symptom outcomes (significant unstandardized β estimate range = 0.20 to 9.45). These results suggested that alcohol use disorder may have contributed substantially to trajectories of psychopathology in this population.

Differential responses to lithium in hyperexcitable neurons from patients with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by intermittent episodes of mania and depression; without treatment, 15% of patients commit suicide. Hence, it has been ranked by the World Health Organization as a top disorder of morbidity and lost productivity. Previous neuropathological studies have revealed a series of alterations in the brains of patients with bipolar disorder or animal models, such as reduced glial cell number in the prefrontal cortex of patients, upregulated activities of the protein kinase A and C pathways and changes in neurotransmission. However, the roles and causation of these changes in bipolar disorder have been too complex to exactly determine the pathology of the disease. Furthermore, although some patients show remarkable improvement with lithium treatment for yet unknown reasons, others are refractory to lithium treatment. Therefore, developing an accurate and powerful biological model for bipolar disorder has been a challenge. The introduction of induced pluripotent stem-cell (iPSC) technology has provided a new approach. Here we have developed an iPSC model for human bipolar disorder and investigated the cellular phenotypes of hippocampal dentate gyrus-like neurons derived from iPSCs of patients with bipolar disorder. Guided by RNA sequencing expression profiling, we have detected mitochondrial abnormalities in young neurons from patients with bipolar disorder by using mitochondrial assays; in addition, using both patch-clamp recording and somatic Ca(2+) imaging, we have observed hyperactive action-potential firing. This hyperexcitability phenotype of young neurons in bipolar disorder was selectively reversed by lithium treatment only in neurons derived from patients who also responded to lithium treatment. Therefore, hyperexcitability is one early endophenotype of bipolar disorder, and our model of iPSCs in this disease might be useful in developing new therapies and drugs aimed at its clinical treatment.

Latent profile analyses of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in trauma-exposed soldiers

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD; Kessler et al., 1995) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; Brown et al., 2001). We aimed to (1) assess discrete patterns of post-trauma PTSD-depression-GAD symptoms using latent profile analyses (LPAs), and (2) assess covariates (gender, income, education, age) in defining the best fitting class solution. The PTSD Checklist (assessing PTSD symptoms), GAD-7 scale (assessing GAD symptoms), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (assessing depression) were administered to 1266 trauma-exposed Ohio National Guard soldiers. Results indicated three discrete subgroups based on symptom patterns with mild (class 1), moderate (class 2) and severe (class 3) levels of symptomatology. Classes differed in symptom severity rather than symptom type. Income and education significantly predicted class 1 versus class 3 membership, and class 2 versus class 3. In conclusion, there is heterogeneity regarding severity of PTSD-depression-GAD symptomatology among trauma-exposed soldiers, with income and education predictive of class membership.

Posttraumatic stress disorder's dysphoria dimension and relations with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms

The present study investigated symptom relations between two highly comorbid disorders--posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)--by exploring their underlying dimensions. Based on theory and prior empirical research it was expected that the dysphoria factor of PTSD would be more highly related to GAD. As part of a longitudinal project of mental health among Ohio National Guard Soldiers, 1266 subjects were administered the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted to examine two models of PTSD and to determine which PTSD factors were more related to the GAD factor. The results indicate that the GAD factor was significantly more highly correlated with PTSD's dysphoria factor than with all other PTSD factors, including PTSD's reexperiencing factor, avoidance factor, and hyperarousal factor. Results indicate GAD was not significantly more highly correlated with numbing than most other factors of PTSD. The results are consistent with prior research. Implications of the results are discussed in regards to PTSD in DSM-5, comorbidity and diagnostic specificity.

An exploratory study of responses to low-dose lithium in African Americans and Hispanics

OBJECTIVES

Few prospective studies examine the impact of ethnicity or race on outcomes with lithium for bipolar disorder. This exploratory study examines differences in lithium response and treatment outcomes in Hispanics, African Americans, and non-Hispanic whites with bipolar disorder in the Lithium Treatment Moderate Dose Use Study (LiTMUS).

METHODS

LiTMUS was a six-site randomized controlled trial of low-dose lithium added to optimized treatment (OPT; personalized, evidence-based pharmacotherapy) vs. OPT alone in outpatients with bipolar disorder. Of 283 participants, 47 African Americans, 39 Hispanics, and 175 non-Hispanic whites were examined. We predicted minority groups would have more negative medication attitudes and higher attrition rates, but better clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

African Americans in the lithium group improved more on depression and life functioning compared to whites over the 6 month study. African Americans in the OPT only group had marginal improvement on depression symptoms. For Hispanics, satisfaction with life did not significantly improve in the OPT only group, in contrast to whites and African Americans who improved over time on all measures. Attitudes toward medications did not differ across ethnic/racial groups.

CONCLUSIONS

African Americans show some greater improvements with lithium than non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics showed more consistent improvements in the lithium group. The impact of low-dose lithium should be studied in a larger sample as there may be particular benefit for African Americans and Hispanics. Given that the control group (regardless of ethnicity/race) had significant improvements, optimized treatment may be beneficial for any ethnic group.

Important clinical features of atypical antipsychotics in acute bipolar depression that inform routine clinical care: a review of pivotal studies with number needed to treat

English-language literature cited in MEDLINE from January, 1980 to October 30, 2014 was searched by using terms of antipsychotic, generic and brand names of atypical antipsychotics, "bipolar depression/bipolar disorder", "placebo", and "trial". The parameters of response (≥50% improvement on MADRS, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score), remission (either ≤12 or 8 on MADRS total score at endpoint), discontinuation due to adverse events (DAEs), somnolence, ≥7% weight gain, overall extrapyramidal side-effects (EPSs), and akathisia, were extracted from originally published primary outcome papers. The number needed to treat to benefit (NNT) for response and remission or harm (NNH) for DAEs or other side effects relative to placebo were estimated and presented with the estimate and 95% confidence interval. Olanzapine monotherapy, olanzapine-fluoxetine combination (OFC), quetiapine-IR monotherapy, quetiapine-XR monotherapy, lurasidone monotherapy, and lurasidone adjunctive therapy were superior to placebo with NNTs for responses of 11-12, 4, 7-8, 4, 4-5, and 7, and NNTs for remission of 11-12, 4, 5-11, 7, 6-7, and 6, respectively. There was no significant difference between OFC and lamotrigine, and between aripiprazole or ziprasidone and placebo in response and remission. Olanzapine monotherapy, quetiapine-IR, quetiapine-XR, aripiprazole, and ziprasidone 120-160 mg/day had significantly increased risk for DAEs with NNHs of 24, 8-14, 9, 12, and 10, respectively. For somnolence, quetiapine-XR had the smallest NNH of 4. For ≥7% weight gain, olanzapine monotherapy and OFC had the smallest NNHs with both of 5. For akathisia, aripiprazole had the smallest NNH of 5. These findings suggest that among the FDA-approved agents including OFC, quetiapine-IR and -XR, lurasidone monotherapy and adjunctive therapy to a mood stabilizer, the differences in the NNTs for response and remission are small, but the differences in NNHs for DAEs and common side-effects are large. Therefore, the selection of an FDA-approved atypical antipsychotic for bipolar depression should be based upon safety and tolerability.

Lifetime and 12-month use of psychiatric services among U.S. Army National Guard soldiers in Ohio

OBJECTIVE

The individual and economic burden of psychiatric illnesses is substantial. Although treatment of psychiatric disorders mitigates the burden of illness, over half of military personnel with disorders do not receive mental health care. However, there is a paucity of research examining the relationship between psychiatric disorder categories and treatment-seeking behavior in representative military populations. This study aimed to document, by psychiatric disorder category, the annualized rate of Guard members who obtained psychiatric services and the factors associated with service utilization.

METHODS

Face-to-face clinical assessments were conducted between 2008 and 2012 to assess lifetime and current psychiatric disorders and recent psychiatric service use among 528 Ohio Army National Guard soldiers.

RESULTS

An annualized rate of 31% of persons per year accessed psychiatric services between 2010 and 2012. Persons with substance use disorders had the lowest annualized rate of service use, and these were the only disorders not predictive of accessing services. Current mood disorder, current anxiety disorder, and lifetime history of service use were the strongest predictors of recent service use. There were no socioeconomic or other group predictors of psychiatric service use.

CONCLUSIONS

About half of the soldiers who could benefit from mental health services used them, yet soldiers with substance use disorders were predominantly going untreated. There were no differences in treatment utilization by group characteristics, suggesting no systematic barriers to care for particular groups. Efforts to encourage broader adoption of treatment seeking, particularly among persons with substance use disorders, are necessary to mitigate psychiatric health burden in this population.

Structural relations between DSM-5 PTSD and major depression symptoms in military soldiers

BACKGROUND

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are frequently comorbid. One explanation for this comorbidity is that PTSD has a constellation of "dysphoria" symptoms resembling depression.

METHOD

Using confirmatory factor analysis we tested the role of DSM-5 PTSD׳s dysphoria factor in relation to MDD symptom dimensions of somatic and non-somatic psychopathology. 672 Ohio National Guard soldiers completed DSM-5 measures of PTSD and MDD symptoms in an epidemiological study.

RESULTS

Results indicated that in contrast to other PTSD factors, PTSD׳s dysphoria factor was more related to MDD׳s somatic and non-somatic factors.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include generalizability to the epidemiological population of trauma-exposed military veterans rather than civilians, and reliance on self-report measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Implications concerning clinical psychopathology and comorbidity of PTSD are discussed, including whether PTSD should be refined by removing its non-specific symptoms.

Variation in response to short-term antidepressant treatment between patients with continuous and non-continuous cycling bipolar disorders

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to compare effectiveness and safety of short-term antidepressant treatment between patients with continuous (CCC) and non-continuous (N-CCC) cycling bipolar disorders.

METHODS

The study sample included 101 patients with bipolar disorder, 22 (21.8%) CCC and 79 (78.2%) N-CCC. Response was defined as a HDRS21 total score <7 at 12 weeks of treatment and remission as a ≥50% reduction of baseline HDRS21 total score sustained for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Compared with N-CCC patients, CCC patients achieved a significantly lower percentage of response (respectively 50% vs. 82.3%, χ²=9.6, p=0.002) and remission (respectively 40.9% vs. 69.6%, χ²=6.11, p=0.013). Adjusted logistic regression analysis indicated that CCC patients were 4.3 times more likely to be non-responders and 3.3 times more likely to be non-remitters than N-CCC patients.

CONCERNING

AD safety, 1 (5.0%) CCC patient committed a suicide attempt and AD-emerging switch was observed in 2 patients with N-CCC (2.5%) and in 1 with CCC (4.5%).

LIMITATIONS

The observational nature of the study, retrospective assessment of course, and unblinded outcomes assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that the presence or absence of a free interval identifies two different forms of bipolar disorders with different response not only to prophylactic treatment, as previously reported, but also to short-term ADs. We submit that clinicians should take into consideration their patients׳ pattern of cycling when prescribing short-term AD treatment. Moreover, subtypes of bipolar disorders might be used as moderators of treatment response in studies assessing the efficacy or the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment.

Efficacy and safety of low- and high-dose cariprazine in acute and mixed mania associated with bipolar I disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE

This phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low- and high-dose cariprazine in patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.

METHOD

This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed/flexible-dose study was conducted from February 2010 to December 2011. Patients were randomly assigned to placebo, cariprazine 3-6 mg/d, or cariprazine 6-12 mg/d for 3 weeks of double-blind treatment. Primary and secondary efficacy parameters were change from baseline to week 3 in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) score, respectively. Post hoc analysis examined change from baseline to week 3 in YMRS single items.

RESULTS

A total of 497 patients were randomized; 74% completed the study. The least squares mean difference (LSMD) for change from baseline to week 3 in YMRS total score was statistically significant in favor of both cariprazine groups versus placebo (LSMD [95% CI]: 3-6 mg/d, -6.1 [-8.4 to -3.8]; 6-12 mg/d, -5.9 [-8.2, -3.6]; P < .001 [both]). Both cariprazine treatment groups showed statistically significant superiority to placebo on all 11 YMRS single items (all comparisons, P < .05). Change from baseline in CGI-S scores was statistically significantly greater in both cariprazine groups compared with placebo (LSMD [95% CI]: 3-6 mg/d, -0.6 [-0.9 to -0.4]; 6-12 mg/d, -0.6 [-0.9 to -0.3]; P < .001 [both]). The most common (≥ 5% and twice the rate of placebo) treatment-related adverse events for cariprazine were akathisia (both groups) and nausea, constipation, and tremor (6-12 mg/d only).

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study demonstrated that both low- and high-dose cariprazine were more effective than placebo in the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. Cariprazine was generally well tolerated, although the incidence of akathisia was greater with cariprazine than with placebo.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01058668.