Validating the bipolar spectrum in the French National EPIDEP Study: overview of the phenomenology and relative prevalence of its clinical prototypes

"Mixed hypomania" in children and adolescents: is it a pediatric bipolar phenotype with extreme diurnal variation between depression and hypomania?

BACKGROUND

Although DSM-IV and the literature on pediatric bipolarity recognize mania and mixed phases neither recognizes states of "mixed hypomania." There has been preliminary presentation of the latter phenomenon in the adult bipolar literature. The authors herein describe this phenomenon in a consecutive clinical series of bipolar children and adolescents.

METHODS

This exploratory study involved 47 consecutive bipolar patients between the ages of 7 and 17 years presenting to an outpatient clinic. They were evaluated using a structured instrument designed to ascertain the presence of major depressive episodes (MDE), hypomania, mania, psychotic disorders, behavioral disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder and substance use disorders. We defined mixed hypomania as MDE and hypomania coexisting over at least 2 weeks.

RESULTS

Of 47 patients, 9 girls (42.9%) and 9 boys (34.6%) were bipolar II mixed. This paper focuses on them. The mean ages of the bipolar II girls and boys were 14.3 (1.9) years and 12.0 (3.4) years, respectively (p<0.05, t=2.45, df=17). This mixed subgroup tended to experience rising mood in the evening, often with spikes of euphoria; a history of late afternoon to evening increased talkativeness or pressured speech was common. Some patients exhibited flight of ideas. Psychomotor acceleration, heightened level of energy, and increased goal directed activity between 1900 and 0300 were frequently reported. Retrospectively obtained circadian information revealed, in most cases an age inappropriate phase delay of sleep onset: After falling asleep in the early hours of the morning the patients awoke feeling depressed, lethargic and as if they could sleep throughout much of the day.

LIMITATION

Cross-sectional, exploratory study based on a relatively small sample size and in need of replication in other clinical settings.

CONCLUSION

Mixed hypomania was a common phenomenon in pediatric bipolar II patients. It is apt to go unrecognized in cross-sectional assessments done in the morning or in the early or mid-afternoon. Those with this proposed phenotype would appear "depressed" at these times. Alternatively, what we have proposed can also be described as severe diurnal variation between depression and hypomania in the evening. Further study is required combining 24-hour clinical observation and state of the art technologically derived data.

Clinical practice recommendations for bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To provide clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations for the management of bipolar disorder in adults that are informative, easy to assimilate and facilitate clinical decision-making.

METHOD

A comprehensive literature review of over 500 articles was undertaken using electronic database search engines (e.g. MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Cochrane reviews). In addition articles, book chapters and other literature known to the authors were reviewed. The findings were then formulated into a set of recommendations that were developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who routinely deal with mood disorders. These preliminary recommendations underwent extensive consultative review by a broader advisory panel that included experts in the field, clinical staff and patient representatives.

RESULTS

The clinical practice recommendations for bipolar disorder (bipolar CPR) summarise evidence-based treatments and provide a synopsis of recommendations relating to each phase of the illness. They are designed for clinical use and have therefore been presented succinctly in an innovative and engaging manner that is clear and informative.

CONCLUSION

These up-to-date recommendations provide an evidence-based framework that incorporates clinical wisdom and consideration of individual factors in the management of bipolar disorder. Further, the novel style and practical approach should promote their uptake and implementation.

A prediction rule for diagnosing hypomania

BACKGROUND

Missing the diagnosis of past hypomania, and thus of bipolar II disorder, is common. Study aim was to find a 'prediction rule' for facilitating the diagnosis of past hypomania.

METHODS

In an outpatient psychiatry private practice (non-tertiary care), a consecutive sample of 275 bipolar II disorder (BP-II) remitted patients, and consecutive, independent, sample of 138 major depressive disorder (MDD) remitted patients, had been interviewed for different study goals during follow-up visits by a senior bipolar-trained psychiatrist. Using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, modified and validated by Benazzi and Akiskal [Benazzi F (2007). Lancet 369: 935-945] to improve the probing for past hypomania, patients had been questioned about the most common symptoms and duration of recent threshold and subthreshold hypomanic episodes. The sample was retrospective in nature. A prediction rule was tested. This is a score resulting from the sum of the weighted scores of each hypomanic symptom which was an independent predictor of hypomania. Its cutoff score for discriminating hypomania was based on the highest figure of correctly classified hypomanias and on the most balanced combination of sensitivity and specificity. A second, independent sample of 138 BP-II and 71 MDD remitted outpatients was tested to replicate the findings.

RESULTS

By univariate logistic regression, hypomanic symptoms distinguishing BP-II and MDD included 'increase in goal-directed activity' (overactivity) (OR=28.3), 'elevated mood' (OR=14.9), 'increased talkativeness' (OR=9.2), 'inflated self-esteem', 'decreased need for sleep', 'excessive risky activities', and 'irritable mood'. By multivariable logistic regression, the independent predictors of hypomania resulted 'increase in goal-directed activity' (OR=14.9, weighted score=15), 'elevated mood' (OR=7.5, weighted score=7), 'increased talkativeness' (OR=3.6, weighted score=4); 'irritable mood', 'inflated self-esteem', 'decreased need for sleep', and 'excessive risky activities' had ORs between 2.04 and 2.39, with a weighted score=2. The prediction rule showed that the cutpoint score > or = 21 had the highest figure of correctly classified hypomanias (88%, ROC area=0.94), showing the most balanced combination of sensitivity (87%) and specificity (89%). This prediction rule, tested on the second sample, found that the same cutoff score > or =21 correctly classified the highest figure of hypomanias (94%, ROC area=0.97), showing the most balanced combination of sensitivity (93%) and specificity (95%). To cross this cutoff score, overactivity was always required (as the sum of the scores of elevated mood and of the other symptoms did not reach this cutoff). However, scores 10 to 20 correctly classified only slightly lower figures of hypomanias.

CONCLUSIONS

A prediction rule for hypomania was tested. The scores of overactivity plus at least some hypomanic symptom (among elevated mood, irritability, inflated self-esteem, less sleep, talkativeness, excessive risky activities) correctly classified 88% of hypomanias. Instead, elevated mood without overactivity, plus even all the other symptoms, did not reach the best figure of correctly classified. However, lower cutoff scores, up to 10, classified slightly lower figures of hypomanias, but with less balanced combinations of sensitivity and specificity. These findings may have diagnostic utility, because BP-II versus MDD is likely to be a more severe disorder. This prediction rule, if replicated and fine-tuned in different settings, may help clinicians better probing past hypomania, thus reducing the common misdiagnosis of BP-II as MDD.

Classifying mood disorders by age-at-onset instead of polarity

BACKGROUND

Polarity is the pillar of the current categorical unipolar-bipolar division of mood disorders. However, genetic studies on these polarity-based phenotypes have been largely inconclusive. Recent clinical and epidemiological studies seem to support more of a continuum than a splitting of mood disorders. A reshaping of the classification of mood disorders thus seems required. Age-at-onset and recurrence have been suggested to be more clinically and genetically useful in the phenotyping of mood disorders.

STUDY AIM

To test a classification of mood disorders based on age-at-onset, and to delineate its phenotypes.

METHODS

A total of 441 consecutive bipolar II disorder (BP-II) and 289 unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) outpatients, presenting for treatment of a major depressive episode (MDE) in a clinical and research private practice, were assessed by a mood disorder specialist psychiatrist (FB) using a Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, modified for better probing past hypomania [Benazzi, F. Bipolar disorder-focus on bipolar II disorder and mixed depression. Lancet 2007a;369: 935-945]. The sample was divided according to age-at-onset. Age-at-onset was defined by the age at onset of the first MDE. Early-age-at-onset (EO) was defined as age at onset before 21 years, late-age-at-onset (LO) as onset at or after age 21 years. The study's current goal had not been planned when data were recorded between 1999 and 2006. Variables were compared in EO versus LO mood disorders, investigating phenotype differences. The main focus was on 'classic' diagnostic validators: MDE clinical picture, gender, course, and family history. Age, gender, BP-II, and mania/hypomania family history (possible confounding) were controlled for in the analyses. Logistic regression was used.

RESULTS

First, EO was regressed on each variable, one at a time, to find significant associations. Second, EO was regressed on all of the variables whose odds ratio (OR) was statistically significant in the previous analyses in order to find independent predictors. Independent predictors of EO mood disorder were history of hypomania, high recurrence, atypical depression, and family history of mania/hypomania. Controlling for BP-II (in addition to age and gender) did not impact the findings. The highest OR was that between EO and high recurrence (OR=4.00). Distinguishing MDE symptoms of EO mood disorder included hypersomnia and psychomotor agitation when controlling for age and gender, and, by controlling also for BP-II, hypersomnia only.

DISCUSSION

A close association among EO mood disorder, high recurrence, and bipolarity (history of hypomania, family history of mania/hypomania) was found. Compared to most previous studies testing EO versus LO in bipolar (mainly BP-I) or in unipolar MDD samples, the present study tested a mixed BP-II and MDD sample and controlled for polarity, reducing, as much as possible, the impact of polarity on the findings. EO (below age 21 years) was distinguished by hypersomnic depression, high recurrence, high history of hypomania, and high history of mania/hypomania. Replications are needed, especially in mixed samples also including BP-I. Results, if replicated, could have implications not only for clinical and genetic studies, but also for treatment (e.g., mood stabilizers could have better long-term effects than antidepressants in EO mood disorders, antidepressants could have negative long-term effects on EO).

The role of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in antidepressant-associated mania in bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of mania during antidepressant treatment is a key issue in the clinical management of bipolar disorder (BD). The serotonin transporter gene is a candidate to be associated with antidepressant-associated mania (AAM) in some patients. This gene has a polymorphism within the promoter region (5-HTTLPR) with two allelic forms, the long (L) and the short (S) variants.

METHODS

We performed a case-control study to compare 5-HTTLPR genotype and allelic frequencies between 43 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of BD, with at least one manic/hypomanic episode associated with treatment with proserotonergic antidepressants (AAM+) and 69 unrelated, matched bipolar patients, who had been exposed to proserotonergic antidepressants without development of manic symptoms (AAM-(*)). Furthermore, we performed this comparison between a subgroup of 23 AAM+ patients that, when they presented AAM, were not using mood stabilizer (AAM+(*)) and 25 AAM- patients who used antidepressant without the concomitant use of a mood stabilizer (AAM-(*)). 5-HTTLPR genotyping was performed using PCR.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between AAM+ and AAM-. Within the subgroups, our results show that S-carriers (LS+SS Genotypes) are more prone to make a manic/hypomanic episode associated with antidepressant (P=0.017).

LIMITATIONS

Our study is retrospective.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be considered a predictor of abnormal response to antidepressant in patients with BP, but this action is influenced by the presence of a mood stabilizer. Such observations reinforce that a correct diagnosis of bipolarity before the beginning of the treatment is essential, mainly for S-carriers patients.

The bipolar spectrum--a bridge too far?

OBJECTIVES

To review the literature evaluating outcomes resulting from expansion of the bipolar disorder (BD) diagnostic category. We were particularly interested in identifying high-level evidence for improved clinical outcomes as documented by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies.

METHODS

The English-language literature was searched using Ovid MEDLINE for studies of BD referenced against the key word spectrum. We used bibliographies and other databases to extend this search when no relevant RCTs or relevant cohort studies were identified.

RESULTS

In the MEDLINE searches, abstracts and titles of 86 studies were examined and 48 were found to be related to the topic of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD). No RCTs or prospective cohort studies evaluating modified diagnostic or therapeutic practices were identified. The literature about the BSD consists mostly of expert opinion emphasizing: various links between bipolar and unipolar mood disorders; a proposal that a greater proportion of the population without a mood disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders should be diagnosed under the BD category; and, proposals that syndromes currently classified elsewhere should be subsumed under the BD category.

CONCLUSIONS

Our search failed to uncover high-level evidence demonstrating the clinical utility of proposed diagnostic realignments. The widespread acceptance of the expanded spectrum concept appears to be based on interpretation of descriptive epidemiologic data by high-profile experts.

Factors associated with rapid cycling in bipolar I manic patients: findings from a French national study

INTRODUCTION

Despite numerous explanatory hypotheses, few studies have involved a large national clinical sample examining risk factors in the occurrence of rapid cycling during the course of bipolar illness.

METHODS

From 1,090 manic bipolar I disorder inpatients included in a multicenter national study in France, 958 could be classified as rapid or nonrapid cyclers and assessed for demographic, illness course, clinical, psychometric, temperament, comorbidity, and treatment characteristics.

RESULTS

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder occurred in 9% (n=86) of the study group. Compared to nonrapid cyclers (n=872), patients with rapid cycling experienced the onset of their illness at a younger age, a higher number of prior episodes, more depression during the first episode, and more suicide attempts. At study entry, they also experienced manic episodes with more depressive and anxious symptoms, but less psychotic features. The following independent variables were associated with rapid cycling: longer duration of illness, antidepressant treatment, episodes with no free intervals, cyclothymic temperament, lower scores on the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms and presence of thyroid disorder. Retrospective study limited to bipolar I disorder inpatients; several factors previously associated with rapid cycling were not assessed.

CONCLUSION

Our findings may confirm previous descriptions, according to which rapid cycling develops later in the course of illness following a sensitization process triggered by antidepressant use or thyroid dysfunction, in patients with a depression-mania-free interval course, and cyclothymic temperament.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and bipolar spectrum disorders: review of the evidence of a relationship and treatment implications

Dementia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances. The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common, contributing to caregiver burden and premature institutionalization. Management of BPSD is complex and often needs recourse to psychotropic drugs. Though widely prescribed, there is a lack of consensus concerning their use, and serious side effects are frequent. This is particularly the case with antidepressant treatment based on the assumption that BPSD is depressive in nature. A better understanding of BPSD etiology could lead to better management strategies. We submit that some BPSD could be the consequence of both dementia and an undiagnosed comorbid bipolar spectrum disorder, or a pre-existing bipolar diathesis pathoplastically altering the clinical expression of dementia. The existence of such a relationship is based on clinical observation, as far as the high frequency of bipolar spectrum disorders in the general population, with a prevalence estimated to be between 5.4% and 8.3%, and the psychopathological similarities between BPSD and mood disorder episodes in bipolar illness. We will review the concept of the bipolar spectrum and explain BPSD before proposing clinical pointers of a possible bipolar spectrum contaminating the phenomenology of dementia, which could lead to the targeted prescription of mood-stabilizing agents in lieu of antidepressant monotherapy. These considerations are of heuristic interest in reconceptualizing the origin of the behavioral manifestations of dementia, with important implications for geriatric practice.

Defining mixed depression

BACKGROUND

Mixed depression, i.e. a major depressive episode plus co-occurring manic/hypomanic symptoms, has recently become the focus of research. However, it is still unclear if its definition should be based on specific manic symptoms or on a number/score of manic symptoms. Different definitions may have different diagnostic utility, such as treatment impacts.

STUDY AIM

Study aim was to test which definition of mixed depression was more supported, by using, as diagnostic validator, early age at onset on the basis of previous studies supporting its bipolar nature.

METHODS

Consecutive 336 Bipolar II Disorder (BP-II), and 224 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) outpatients were cross-sectionally assessed for major depressive episode (MDE) and concurrent DSM-IV hypomanic symptoms when presenting for treatment of depression, by a mood disorder specialist psychiatrist using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV as modified by Akiskal and Benazzi (J Clin Psychiatry, 2005) and the Hypomania Interview Guide (HIG), in a private practice. Mixed depression was defined as co-occurrence of MDE and hypomanic symptoms. Early age at onset (EO) below 21 years was used as diagnostic validator.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression of EO versus all within-MDE hypomanic symptoms, controlled for BP-II, showed that no specific symptom was independently associated with EO. By ROC analysis versus EO, the best combination of sensitivity and specificity, and the highest figure of correctly classified, were shown by a cutoff number >=3 symptoms, and by a cutoff HIG score >=8. Both cutoffs had similar strength of association with EO. Mixed depression defined by >=3 within-MDE hypomanic symptoms (A), or by a HIG score >=8 (B), were more frequent in EO group versus LO group (A: 70.5% versus 49.8%; B: 60.7% versus 40.9%; p<0.001), and in BP-II versus MDD (A: 72.3% versus 39.7%; p<0.001; positive predictive value for BP-II=73.1%; B: 63.9% versus 29.0%; p<0.001; positive predictive value for BP-II=76.7%).

DISCUSSION

Findings could support the diagnostic validity of a definition of mixed depression based on a cutoff number/score of within-depression hypomanic symptoms versus one based on specific symptoms, complementing and supporting previous studies using bipolar family history as validator. Diagnosing mixed depression has treatment impacts, such as careful use of antidepressants added to mood stabilising agents or no use of antidepressants, as recently shown by large naturalistic and controlled studies.

A relationship between bipolar II disorder and borderline personality disorder?

BACKGROUND

The relationship between DSM-IV-TR borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorders, especially bipolar II disorder (BP-II), is still unclear. Many recent reviews on this topic have come to opposite or different conclusions.

STUDY AIM

The aim was to test the association between hypomania symptoms and BPD traits, as hypomania is the defining feature of BP-II in DSM-IV-TR.

METHODS

During follow-up visits in a private practice, consecutive 138 remitted BP-II outpatients were re-diagnosed by a mood disorder specialist psychiatrist, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (as modified by Benazzi and Akiskal for better probing hypomania). Soon after, patients self-assessed (blind to interviewer) the SCID-II Personality Questionnaire for BPD. Associations and confounding were tested by logistic regression, between each criteria symptom of hypomania (apart from "racing thoughts" and "distractibility", not assessed as probing focused mainly on behavioral, observable signs), and the entire set of BPD traits. Multivariate regression was also used to jointly regress the entire set of hypomanic symptoms on the entire set of BPD traits.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age was 39.0 (9.8) years, females were 76.3%. Frequency of BPD traits ranged between 17% and 66% (e.g. impulsivity trait 41%, affective instability trait 63%), mean (SD) number of traits was 4.2 (2.3). The most common episodic hypomanic symptoms were elevated mood (91%) and overactivity (93%); frequency of excessive risky, impulsive activities (impulsivity) was 62%. By logistic regression the only significant association was between the episodic impulsivity of hypomania and the trait impulsivity of BPD. Multivariate regression of the entire set of hypomanic symptoms jointly regressed on the entire set of BPD traits was not statistically significant.

DISCUSSION

The core feature of BP-II, i.e. hypomania, does not seem to have a close relationship with BDP traits in the study setting, partly running against a strong association between BPD and BP-II and a bipolar spectrum nature of BPD.

How best to identify a bipolar-related subtype among major depressive patients without spontaneous hypomania: superiority of age at onset criterion over recurrence and polarity?

BACKGROUND

History of high depressive recurrence (without history of mania/hypomania) has been proposed as a mood subtype close to bipolar disorders. Herein we test whether this is the best approach to this question.

METHODS

We systematically evaluated consecutive 224 Major Depressive (MDD) and 336 Bipolar II Disorders (BP-II) outpatients in a private practice, by the SCID for DSM-IV (modified for better probing hypomania by Akiskal and Benazzi [Akiskal, H.S., Benazzi, F., 2005. Optimizing the detection of bipolar II disorder in outpatient private practice: toward a systematization of clinical diagnostic wisdom. J. Clin. Psychiatry 66, 914-921]). We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses on such putative bipolar validators as early age at onset of first major depressive episode (before 21 years), high recurrence, family history for bipolar disorders, and depressive mixed states (mixed depression, i.e. depression plus concurrent hypomanic symptoms), in order to identify an MDD subgroup close to BP-II.

RESULTS

All bipolar validators were independent predictors of BP-II. Early onset was the only variable which identified an MDD subgroup significantly associated with all bipolar validators. This MDD subgroup was similar to BP-II on age at onset and bipolar family history, and had a high frequency of mixed depression. A dose-response relationship was found between number of bipolar validators present in MDD, and bipolar family history loading among MDD relatives.

LIMITATIONS

Study limited to outpatients.

CONCLUSIONS

From among the bipolar validators, early age at onset of first major depression (<21 years) was superior to high recurrence (>4 depressive episodes) in identifying an MDD subgroup close to BP-II, which might be subsumed under the broad bipolar spectrum. Implications of unipolar-bipolar boundaries and genetic investigations are discussed.

A tetrachoric factor analysis validation of mixed depression

BACKGROUND

Mixed depression, i.e. a Major Depressive Episode plus co-occurring manic/hypomanic symptoms, has recently become the focus of research. However, its diagnostic validity and bipolar nature are still not firmly supported. A bipolar nature could have significant treatment impacts.

STUDY AIM

The aim was to psychometrically validate the concept of, and the bipolar nature, of mixed depression, by using (for the first time) tetrachoric factor analysis of its hypomanic symptoms.

METHODS

Consecutive 441 Bipolar II Disorder (BP-II), and 289 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) outpatients were cross-sectionally assessed for Major Depressive Episode (MDE) and concurrent hypomanic symptoms (as binary variables) when presenting for treatment of depression, by a mood disorder specialist psychiatrist (FB), using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (as modified by [Akiskal HS, Benazzi F. Optimizing the detection of bipolar II disorder in outpatient private practice: toward a systematization of clinical diagnostic wisdom. J Clin Psychiatry 2005; 66: 914-921.]) in a private practice. Consecutive 275 remitted BP-II were also assessed for past hypomania. Mixed depression was defined as co-occurrence of MDE and 3 or more, usually subthreshold, hypomanic symptoms.

RESULTS

In multivariable logistic regression, BP-II independent predictor variables were young onset age, MDE recurrences, mixed depression, and bipolar family history. Factor analysis of past hypomania symptoms found three factors: an "irritable mental overactivity" factor, an "elevated mood" factor, and a "motor overactivity" factor. Factor analysis of intradepression hypomanic symptoms in BP-II, and in MDD, found two similar mental and motor overactivity factors. Multivariate regression of the intradepression hypomanic factors versus bipolar validators, such as bipolar family history and young onset age, found significant associations.

DISCUSSION

Findings could support the diagnostic validity, and the bipolar nature, of mixed depression, on the basis of the close similarities found between the factor structure of inter-depression hypomania and intra-depression hypomanic symptoms. Impacts on treatment of a bipolar nature of mixed depression may be significant (e.g. more use of mood stabilising agents, less/no use of antidepressants).

Bipolar II disorder : epidemiology, diagnosis and management

Bipolar II disorder (BP-II) is defined, by DSM-IV, as recurrent episodes of depression and hypomania. Hypomania, according to DSM-IV, requires elevated (euphoric) and/or irritable mood, plus at least three of the following symptoms (four if mood is only irritable): grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, increased talking, racing thoughts, distractibility, overactivity (an increase in goal-directed activity), psychomotor agitation and excessive involvement in risky activities. This observable change in functioning should not be severe enough to cause marked impairment of social or occupational functioning, or to require hospitalisation. The distinction between BP-II and bipolar I disorder (BP-I) is not clearcut. The symptoms of mania (defining BP-I) and hypomania (defining BP-II) are the same, apart from the presence of psychosis in mania, and the distinction is based on the presence of marked impairment associated with mania, i.e. mania is more severe and may require hospitalisation. This is an unclear boundary that can lead to misclassification; however, the fact that hypomania often increases functioning makes the distinction between mania and hypomania clearer. BP-II depression can be syndromal and subsyndromal, and it is the prominent feature of BP-II. It is often a mixed depression, i.e. it has concurrent, usually subsyndromal, hypomanic symptoms. It is the depression that usually leads the patient to seek treatment.DSM-IV bipolar disorders (BP-I, BP-II, cyclothymic disorder and bipolar disorder not otherwise classified, which includes very rapid cycling and recurrent hypomania) are now considered to be part of the 'bipolar spectrum'. This is not included in DSM-IV, but is thought to also include antidepressant/substance-associated hypomania, cyclothymic temperament (a trait of highly unstable mood, thinking and behaviour), unipolar mixed depression and highly recurrent unipolar depression.BP-II is underdiagnosed in clinical practice, and its pharmacological treatment is understudied. Underdiagnosis is demonstrated by recent epidemiological studies. While, in DSM-IV, BP-II is reported to have a lifetime community prevalence of 0.5%, epidemiological studies have instead found that it has a lifetime community prevalence (including the bipolar spectrum) of around 5%. In depressed outpatients, one in two may have BP-II. The recent increased diagnosing of BP-II in research settings is related to several factors, including the introduction of the use of semi-structured interviews by trained research clinicians, a relaxation of diagnostic criteria such that the minimum duration of hypomania is now less than the 4 days stipulated by DSM-IV, and a probing for a history of hypomania focused more on overactivity (increased goal-directed activity) than on mood change (although this is still required for a diagnosis of hypomania). Guidelines on the treatment of BP-II are mainly consensus based and tend to follow those for the treatment of BP-I, because there have been few controlled studies of the treatment of BP-II. The current, limited evidence supports the following lines of treatment for BP-II. Hypomania is likely to respond to the same agents useful for mania, i.e. mood-stabilising agents such as lithium and valproate, and the second-generation antipsychotics (i.e. olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, aripiprazole). Hypomania should be treated even if associated with overfunctioning, because a depression often soon follows hypomania (the hypomania-depression cycle). For the treatment of acute BP-II depression, two controlled studies of quetiapine have not found clearcut positive effects. Naturalistic studies, although open to several biases, have found antidepressants in acute BP-II depression to be as effective as in unipolar depression; however, one recent large controlled study (mainly in patients with BP-I) has found antidepressants to be no more effective than placebo. Results from naturalistic studies and clinical observations on mixed depression, while in need of replication in controlled studies, indicate that antidepressants may worsen the concurrent intradepression hypomanic symptoms. The only preventive treatment for both depression and hypomania that is supported by several, albeit older, controlled studies is lithium. Lamotrigine has shown some efficacy in delaying depression recurrences, but there have also been several negative unpublished studies of the drug in this indication.

In search of Aristotle: temperament, human nature, melancholia, creativity and eminence

Is suffering associated with melancholia and "madness" necessary for artistic creativity and eminence? Or do creativity and leadership have something to do with the temperaments associated with affective disease? We integrate concepts dating back to Greek psychological medicine and philosophy--especially work attributed to Aristotle--with modern data-based examination of the role of cyclothymic and related temperaments in the interface between mixity, the bipolar spectrum and normality. We place our query within the general framework of evolutionary biology and human nature. In doing so, we propose that affective disease--including mania and associated psychotic states--exist because they serve as the genetic reservoir for adaptive temperaments and the genes for genius. Affective disorder can therefore be regarded as the price of exceptional greatness. Thus, creative and eminent individuals, by virtue of their being exceptional, occupy a somewhat unstable terrain between temperament and affective disease.

Impulsivity in bipolar-II disorder: trait, state, or both?

BACKGROUND

In bipolar-II (BP-II) disorder impulsivity (defined as excessive risky activities by DSM-IV-TR) is one of the symptoms of hypomania. It is unclear if impulsivity is also a trait in BP-II.

STUDY AIM

The aim was to test if impulsivity was also a trait in BP-II.

METHODS

Consecutive 136 remitted BP-II outpatients (assessed when presenting for depression by a mood disorder specialist psychiatrist using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV), self-assessed trait impulsivity during follow-ups, using the Personality Questionnaire of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders, in a private practice. Trait mood swings were also self-assessed, using the TEMPS-A. A trait nature of impulsivity in BP-II could be supported by finding (1) a relatively high frequency, (2) association between trait impulsivity and symptoms of past hypomania, especially impulsivity, (3) dose-response relationship between number of past hypomania symptoms and trait impulsivity, and (4) association between trait impulsivity and trait mood swings (a trait feature of BP-II).

RESULTS

Trait impulsivity was present in 41.1% of BP-II. BP-II with, versus BP-II without, trait impulsivity had significantly more males, trait mood swings, past hypomania symptoms (irritable mood, talkativeness, increased goal-directed activity), and excessive risky activities (i.e. state impulsivity), corresponding to an irritable risky overactivity. Past state impulsivity and trait impulsivity were significantly associated. Number of past hypomania symptoms and trait impulsivity were significantly correlated. A dose-response relationship was found between number of past hypomania symptoms and trait impulsivity.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that trait impulsivity may be a feature of BP-II. Limitation of self-assessment of personality traits should be taken into account. Findings may have treatment impacts, as the combination of trait impulsivity and mood swings may facilitate relapses and mixed states, which mood stabilising agents could prevent/delay.

Delineation of the clinical picture of Dysphoric/Mixed Hypomania

BACKGROUND

While Mixed Depression (i.e. depression plus subthreshold concurrent manic/hypomanic symptoms) has recently seen a wave of studies, little is known about Dysphoric/Mixed Hypomania (i.e. combination of syndromal hypomania and depression) compared to Bipolar I Disorder Mixed State (i.e. combination of syndromal mania and depression).

STUDY AIM

To delineate the clinical picture of Dysphoric/Mixed Hypomania.

METHODS

Consecutive 441 Bipolar II Disorder (BP-II) Major Depressive Episode (MDE) outpatients were cross-sectionally assessed for depression and concurrent hypomanic symptoms when presenting for treatment of depression, by a mood disorder specialist psychiatrist (FB), using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, in a private practice. Consecutive 275 remitted BP-II were also assessed for the clinical picture of past (recalled) Hypomania. Dysphoric Hypomania was defined as the co-occurrence of DSM-IV irritable mood Hypomania and MDE.

RESULTS

Frequency of Dysphoric Hypomania was 17.0%, and it was 66.4% for Mixed Depression. Irritable mood, always present by definition in Dysphoric Hypomania, was present in 65.9% of recalled Hypomania and elevated mood in 81.4%. Dysphoric Hypomania had significantly more racing/crowded thoughts, and much less increased goal-directed activity. Functioning was always impaired in Dysphoric Hypomania (by definition), while it was improved in most recalled Hypomanias. Factor structure was different: recalled Hypomania had three factors ('elevated mood', 'irritability and racing/crowded thoughts', 'goal-directed and risky overactivity'), Dysphoric Hypomania had five factors ('depressive vegetative symptoms', 'low mood and psychomotor agitation', 'risky activities', 'loss of interest', 'racing/crowded thoughts and suicidality').

DISCUSSION

Dysphoric Hypomania was uncommon among depressed outpatients (while Mixed Depression was common). Its clinical picture was closer to depression than to hypomania. If it were seen as a simple depression, antidepressants could be used alone (i.e. not protected by mood stabilising agents), risking the worsening of intra-depression irritable hypomania (which was related to suicidality). Systematic assessment of intra-depression hypomanic symptoms is supported.

Bipolar disorder--focus on bipolar II disorder and mixed depression

Bipolar II disorder (recurrent depressive and hypomanic episodes) and related disorders (united in the bipolar spectrum) are understudied, despite a prevalence of about 5% in the community and about 50% in depressed outpatients. The apparent increase in prevalence of the bipolar spectrum is related to several changes in diagnostic criteria, including improved probing for history of hypomania (focused more on overactivity than on mood change), lower minimum duration of hypomania, and inclusion of unipolar depressions with bipolar signs (eg, family history of bipolar disorder, mixed depression). Prevalence of mixed depression, a combination of depression and manic or hypomanic symptoms, is high in patients with bipolar disorders. Controlled studies are needed to investigate treatment of mixed depression; antidepressants can worsen manic and hypomanic symptoms, and mood stabilising agents might be necessary.

Bipolar II and anxious reactive "comorbidity": toward better phenotypic characterization suitable for genotyping

OBJECTIVE

In DSM-IV, bipolar II (BP-II) disorder is defined by depression and hypomania. There is little appreciation of affective instability, often associated with anxiety-particularly panic disorder and agoraphobia (PDA)-comorbidity. This association has genetic-familial implications, which we believe must be incorporated in refining the BP-II phenotype suitable for genotyping purposes.

METHOD

We examined in a semi-structured format 107 consecutive patients who met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive episode with atypical features and separated them into two subgroups according to the co-occurring criteria for PDA. They were further evaluated on the basis of the Atypical Depression Diagnostic Scale (ADDS), the Hopkins Symptoms Check-list (HSCL 90), and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), coupled with its modified form for reverse vegetative features, as well as Axis I and II comorbidity and temperamental dispositions, particularly cyclothymic instability.

RESULTS

Fifty (46.7%) of our patients met the DSM-IV criteria for PDA. In terms of significant results, PDA+ was more frequently female, had higher number of hypomanic episodes, and stressors; they were also more often BP-II, and cyclothymic. Ratings of reactivity, somatization, OCD and phobic anxiety too were significantly higher among the PDA+. In related analyses, most AD (75.7%) met criteria for BP-II; the BP-II subgroup was characterized by PDA, as well as borderline personality features and cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperaments.

LIMITATIONS

Correlational clinical study in which clinicians could not be kept entirely blind to the variables under investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

In line with the description by the French psychiatrist Pierre Kahn a century earlier, cyclothymic reactivity and neurotic features (i.e., atypicality and panic attacks) appear relevant to the definition of what today we consider BP-II disorder. These data, which are in line with current familial-genetic models of this disorder, suggest that the DSM-IV characterization of BP-II must be enriched by greater emphasis on temperamentally based mood and anxious reactivity. Such phenotypic characterization is likely to assist in better genotyping. Previous work by us further suggests the relevance of bulimic and addictive tendencies, as well as "borderline personality" diagnosis in the proband and/or the family. We submit that these conditions, rather than being "comorbid," constitute, along with BP-II, a spectrum of overlapping underlying genetic diatheses.