A History of the Pharmacological Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Do Asian and North American patients with bipolar disorder have similar efficacy, tolerability, and safety profile during clinical trials with atypical antipsychotics?

BACKGROUND

The approvals of psychotropics for bipolar disorder (BD) are mainly based on randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) from North America. It remains unknown whether approved psychotropics have similar efficacy, tolerability, and safety for Asians with BD. The aim of this systematic review was to compare those differences of psychotropics between Asians and North Americans with BD.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched for RCTs studied in two regions. The effect size, remission/response rate, and risk for discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs), weight gain (WG), nervous systems and gastrointestinal AEs were assessed and compared between two regions with Cohen's d or number needed to treat/harm.

RESULTS

Eleven studies of aripiprazole, olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine in BD were included. Similar efficacy and relatively benign tolerability of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) between Asians and Americans with BD were observed in most studies. The risk for AAP-related WG was similar between two regions. Asians with mania or bipolar depression were more vulnerable to akathisia/tremor or constipation. Japanese and Chinese with bipolar depression were more sensitive to somnolence and dizziness, respectively. Americans were more likely to have dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting.

LIMITATIONS

The number of included psychotropics and papers was small.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in AAP-related efficacy and tolerability were minimal between the two regions, but some AEs appeared to be different. Clinicians should pay attention to these differences to optimize treatment strategies in different races/ethnicities with BD.

Effects of Lithium Combined with Second-Generation Antipsychotics for the Treatment of Manic Episodes in Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Naturalistic Study in China

OBJECTIVE

To explore the therapeutic effects of lithium combined with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) of quetiapine, clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone for the treatment of manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) to guide the selection of medications.

METHODS

We examined the case data of patients with BD who experienced manic episodes and were hospitalized in a Class 3A Psychiatric Hospital in Anhui Province from January 2015 to October 2019. The enrolled patients were rated using the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (BRMS) before and after treatment, and relevant adverse effects were monitored.

RESULTS

Analysis of the collected case data of 182 patients showed significant differences in the BRMS scores on admission and at discharge of patients treated with lithium combined with each SGA. The chi-square test showed no obvious difference in the final therapeutic effects of lithium combined with each of the four SGAs (χ² = 7.365, P = 0.146). However, there were differences in the incidence of adverse effects (χ ² = 10.604, P = 0.014) and remission rate after 2 weeks of treatment (χ² = 10.174, P = 0.017). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the incidence of adverse effects was related to the length of stay in hospital and clozapine treatment. The remission rate after 2 weeks was associated with the length of stay in hospital, clozapine treatment, and age of onset.

CONCLUSION

Lithium combined with SGAs (quetiapine, clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone) effectively improves the manic symptoms of patients with BD who experience manic episodes. Lithium combined with quetiapine for the treatment of bipolar manic episode has advantages with respect to the speed of effective and incidence of adverse effects.

Intravenous valproate in the treatment of acute manic episode in bipolar disorder: A review

BACKGROUND

Mania is a state of elated or irritable mood characterizing Bipolar Disorder type I (BD-I). Among the pharmacological treatments for the management of mania, mood stabilizers are regularly employed, with valproate being one of the most used because of its effectiveness. However, while the oral formulation is approved for acute mania, it is unclear whether the intravenous (IV) formulation could be a valid and safe alternative.

METHODS

We performed a bibliographic research on PUBMED of all studies investigating the use of IV valproate as a treatment of acute mania in BD-I. A total of 13 studies met our inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Overall, the results suggest that IV valproate as a loading therapy is an efficacious, safe and well tolerated treatment for manic episodes, and it is comparable to the oral loading regimen. Interestingly, only a few patients experienced significant side effects due to the administration of the IV valproate.

LIMITATIONS

Few open label clinical trials have explored the effect of IV valproate in manic patients. Moreover, the original studies employed different clinical assessments and included manic patients taking other drugs, which made it impossible to determine whether the resolution of symptoms was due to valproate therapy alone. Additionally, serum valproate levels were not assessed by all studies.

CONCLUSIONS

IV valproate may represent a valid option for the management of acute mania, with comparable effects in terms of efficacy and safety to the oral valproate. However, larger and more homogeneous studies are warranted in order to collect more precise information on the beneficial effect of IV valproate.

Clinical Lactation Studies of Lithium: A Systematic Review

Background: There is substantial evidence that postpartum prophylaxis with lithium lowers the rate of relapse in bipolar disorder. However, it is contraindicated during breastfeeding due to the high variability of the transfer into breast milk. Aims: We conducted a systematic review of the current evidence of studies assessing the transfer of lithium to lactating infants and short-term infant outcomes. Methods: An a priori protocol was designed based on PRISMA guidelines. Searches in PubMed and LactMed were conducted until September 2018. Studies assessing lithium pharmacokinetic parameters and short-term infant outcomes were included. Quality was assessed using a checklist based on international guidelines (i.e., FDA). Results: From 344 initial studies, 13 case reports/series with 39 mother-child dyads were included. Only 15% of studies complied with ≥50% of the items on the quality assessment checklist. Infants breastfeed a mean (SD) of 58.9 (83.3) days. Mean maternal lithium dose was 904 (293) mg/day, corresponding lithium plasma/serum concentration was 0.73(0.26) mEq/L, and breast milk concentration was 0.84(0.14) mEq/L. Mean infant lithium plasma/serum concentration was 0.23(0.26) mEq/L. Twenty-six (80%) infants had concentrations ≤0.30 mEq/L without adverse effects. Eight (20%) showed a transient adverse event (i.e., acute toxicity or thyroid alterations). All of them were also prenatally exposed to lithium monotherapy or polytherapy. Conclusion: The current evidence comes from studies with a degree of heterogeneity and of low-moderate quality. However, it identifies areas of improvement for future clinical lactation studies of lithium and provides support for some clinical recommendations.

Is Capillary Electrophoresis a New Tool to Monitor Acute Lithium Poisoning in Human?†

A 38-year-old man was admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) after supposed ingestion of 504 sustained-release tablets of Theralithe™ corresponding ~200 g of lithium carbonate. At the admission, ~19.5 h after ingestion, the patient was conscious with trembling limbs, intense thirst, profuse sweats and vomiting and lithium serum concentration was 14.2 mmol/L. Toxicological screenings performed in urine and serum, were negative. Patient was treated with continuous extrarenal epuration by continue veno-venous hemodiafiltration starting (CCVHDF) 24 h post-admission and was carried on until 64 h. After 11 days in ICU, the patient was dismissed to the service without sequelae, and transferred to a psychiatric unit. To follow lithium concentrations in serum, urines and dialysates, we developed a simple, rapid and reliable method by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Separation was achieved in 7 min. The method was linear between 0.14 and 1.44 mmol/L for serum samples, and between 0.07 and to 1.44 mmol/L for urines and dialysates. Limits of quantification were 0.15 mmol/L and 0.07 mmol/L for serum and others fluids, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precisions expressed as CV were systematically inferior to 12.1% for serum and 8.2% for other fluids. Results obtained regarding precision, accuracy, recovery and stability were satisfying, with recoveries ranging from 91.0 to 102.0%. Serum, urine and dialysate samples were measured using CZE and flame photometry. We observed a strong correlation between both methods as assessed by linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis. For the intoxicated patient, the assay was successfully applied to serum, urine and dialysates to determine the amount of lithium present in circulation and excreted. Lithium amounts in dialysates were estimated to correspond to 89% of total lithium excreted during CCVHF session while urine excretion account only for 11%.

Acute-onset Mania in a Patient with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Mania is a mood disorder characteristic of certain psychiatric conditions and is exhibited by high energy, elevated mood, irritability, insomnia, and pressured speech. Though commonly attributed to bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, mania may be precipitated by other non-psychiatric conditions, including substance abuse, medications, metabolic disturbance, and organic brain pathology. Steroid-induced mania is not uncommon and may present with a number of psychiatric symptoms. Brain tumors presenting with predominantly psychiatric symptoms are a relatively uncommon cause of mania and may persist or recede with treatment. A case of mania in a cancer patient with brain metastasis and steroid use, with no prior history of mania, is discussed herein.

Immune-Based Therapies for Traumatic Brain Injury: Insights from Pre-Clinical Studies

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health problem. It is the leading cause of death and disability, especially among children and young adults. The neurobiology basis underlying TBI pathophysiology remains to be fully revealed. Over the past years, emerging evidence has supported the hypothesis that TBI is an inflammatory based condition, paving the way for the development of potential therapeutic targets. There is no treatment capable to prevent or minimize TBIassociated outcomes. Therefore, the search for effective therapies is a priority goal. In this context, animal models have become valuable tools to study molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in TBI pathogenesis as well as novel treatments. Herein, we discuss therapeutic strategies to treat TBI focused on immunomodulatory and/or anti-inflammatory approaches in the pre-clinical setting.

Similar Population of CD133+ and DDX4+ VSEL-Like Stem Cells Sorted from Human Embryonic Stem Cell, Ovarian, and Ovarian Cancer Ascites Cell Cultures: The Real Embryonic Stem Cells?

A population of small stem cells with diameters of up to 5 μm resembling very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) were sorted from human embryonic stem cell (hESC) cultures using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) based on the expression of a stem-cell-related marker prominin-1 (CD133). These VSEL-like stem cells had nuclei that almost filled the whole cell volume and expressed stem-cell-related markers (CD133, SSEA-4) and markers of germinal lineage (DDX4/VASA, PRDM14). They were comparable to similar populations of small stem cells sorted from cell cultures of normal ovaries and were the predominant cells in ascites of recurrent ovarian cancer. The sorted populations of CD133+ VSEL-like stem cells were quiescent in vitro, except for ascites, and were highly activated after exposure to valproic acid and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), indicating a new tool to study these cells in vitro. These VSEL-like stem cells spontaneously formed clusters resembling tumour-like structures or grew into larger, oocyte-like cells and were differentiated in vitro into adipogenic, osteogenic and neural lineages after sorting. We propose the population of VSEL-like stem cells from hESC cultures as potential original embryonic stem cells, which are present in the human embryo, persist in adult human ovaries from the embryonic period of life and are involved in cancer manifestation.

Amidic derivatives of valproic acid, valpromide and valnoctamide, inhibit HSV-1 infection in oligodendrocytes

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous infectious agent that can establish latency in neurons, and in some cases, viral retrograde transport results in infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Several antivirals have been identified with the ability to inhibit HSV-1 replication in human cells to a greater or lesser degree, most of which are nucleoside analogues that unfortunately exhibit teratogenic potential, embryotoxicity, carcinogenic or antiproliferative activities and resistances in immunocompromised patients, specially. In the present study, we assessed two amidic derivatives of valproic acid (VPA) - valpromide (VPD) and valnoctamide (VCD) - which are already used in clinic treatments, as feasible HSV-1 antivirals in glial cells. Both VPD and VCD have exhibited increased efficacy in bipolar disorders and as anticonvulsant drugs compared to VPA, while being less teratogenic and hepatotoxic. Cytotoxicity assays carried out in our laboratory showed that VPD and VCD were not toxic in a human oligodendroglioma cell line (HOG), at least at the concentrations established for human treatments. Infectivity assays showed a significant inhibition of HSV-1 infection in HOG cells after VPD and VCD treatment, being more pronounced in VPD-treated cells, comparable to the effects obtained with acyclovir. Furthermore, the same antiherpetic effects of VPD were observed in other oligodendrocytic cell lines and rat primary oligodendrocytes (OPCs), confirming the results obtained in HOG cells. Altogether, our results allow us to propose VPD as a potential antiherpetic drug that is able to act directly on oligodendrocytes of the CNS.

Atypical antipsychotic adherence is associated with lower inpatient utilization and cost in bipolar I disorder

AIMS

This study explored the association between medication adherence to oral atypical antipsychotics (AAP) and both psychiatric hospitalization and associated costs in bipolar I disorder (BD-I) in a real-world setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study used the Truven Health MarketScan Medicaid, Commercial, and Medicare Supplemental Claims Databases. Adults were identified if they had BD-I and initiated an AAP treatment during the study identification period (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016 for Medicaid, July 1, 2015-March 31, 2016 for Commercial and Medicare Supplemental) and had ≥6-month continuous enrollment before (baseline) and after (follow-up) the first day of treatment. Medication adherence was measured by the proportion of days covered (PDC) and grouped as: fully-adherent (PDC ≥80%), partially-adherent (40% ≤ PDC <80%), and non-adherent (PDC <40%). Logistic and linear regression models were conducted to estimate the risk of psychiatric hospitalization and costs during the 6-month follow-up period.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 5,892 (32.0%) fully-adherent, 4,246 (23.1%) partially-adherent, and 8,250 (44.9%) non-adherent patients. The adjusted rate of psychiatric hospitalization during the follow-up period was lower in the fully-adherent (6.0%) vs partially- (8.3%) or non-adherent (8.8%) groups (p < 0.001). Using the fully-adherent cohort as the reference group, the odds of psychiatric hospitalization were significantly higher for the partially-adherent (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.23-1.64) and non-adherent (1.51; 1.33-1.71) cohorts. The mean adjusted psychiatric hospitalization cost over 6 months among hospitalized patients was lower for the fully-adherent cohort ($11,748), than the partially-adherent ($15,051 p = 0.002) or non-adherent cohorts ($13,170, not statistically significant).

LIMITATIONS

The medication adherence measures relied on prescription claims data, not actual use.

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of BD-I, better medication adherence to AAP was associated with fewer psychiatric hospitalizations. Among hospitalized patients, fully-adherent patients had statistically significantly lower psychiatric costs than partially-adherent ones. These findings suggest that improving adherence to AAP in BD-I may be a valuable goal from both clinical and economic perspectives.