Broadening the diagnosis of bipolar disorder: benefits vs. risks

White and gray matter alterations in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder subtypes compared with healthy controls - exploring associations with disease course and polygenic risk

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) show alterations in both gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter (WM) integrity compared with healthy controls (HC). However, it remains unclear whether the phenotypically distinct BD subtypes (BD-I and BD-II) also exhibit brain structural differences. This study investigated GMV and WM differences between HC, BD-I, and BD-II, along with clinical and genetic associations. N = 73 BD-I, n = 63 BD-II patients and n = 136 matched HC were included. Using voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics, main effects of group in GMV and fractional anisotropy (FA) were analyzed. Associations between clinical and genetic features and GMV or FA were calculated using regression models. For FA but not GMV, we found significant differences between groups. BD-I patients showed lower FA compared with BD-II patients (ptfce-FWE = 0.006), primarily in the anterior corpus callosum. Compared with HC, BD-I patients exhibited lower FA in widespread clusters (ptfce-FWE < 0.001), including almost all major projection, association, and commissural fiber tracts. BD-II patients also demonstrated lower FA compared with HC, although less pronounced (ptfce-FWE = 0.049). The results remained unchanged after controlling for clinical and genetic features, for which no independent associations with FA or GMV emerged. Our findings suggest that, at a neurobiological level, BD subtypes may reflect distinct degrees of disease expression, with increasing WM microstructure disruption from BD-II to BD-I. This differential magnitude of microstructural alterations was not clearly linked to clinical and genetic variables. These findings should be considered when discussing the classification of BD subtypes within the spectrum of affective disorders.

Bipolar disorder in the International Classification of Diseases-Eleventh version: A review of the changes, their basis, and usefulness

The World Health Organization’s 11^th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) including the chapter on mental disorders has come into effect this year. This review focuses on the “Bipolar or Related Disorders” section of the ICD-11 draft. It describes the benchmarks for the new version, particularly the foremost principle of clinical utility. The alterations made to the diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) are evaluated on their scientific basis and clinical utility. The change in the diagnostic requirements for manic and hypomanic episodes has been much debated. Whether the current criteria have achieved an optimum balance between sensitivity and specificity is still not clear. The ICD-11 definition of depressive episodes is substantially different, but the lack of empirical support for the changes has meant that the reliability and utility of bipolar depression are relatively low. Unlike the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th edition (DSM-5), the ICD-11 has retained the category of mixed episodes. Although the concept of mixed episodes in the ICD-11 is not perfect, it appears to be more inclusive than the DSM-5 approach. Additionally, there are some uncertainties about the guidelines for the subtypes of BD and cyclothymic disorder. The initial results on the reliability and clinical utility of BD are promising, but the newly created diagnostic categories also appear to have some limitations. Although further improvement and research are needed, the focus should now be on facing the challenges of implementation, dissemination, and education and training in the use of these guidelines.

Depressive and Anxious Temperaments as Predictors of Late Onset Bipolar Disorder? Preliminary Results of a "Real World" Exploratory Study

INTRODUCTION

Bipolar disorder (BD) onset typically occurs between 15 and 30 years, being diagnosed under the age of 50 in 90% of cases, named "non-late onset BD" (non-LOBD). However, clinical observation of late-onset BD (LOBD) raised some concern regarding a differential psychopathological pattern, outcomes and treatment, including a specific affective temperament vulnerability. Therefore, an exploratory study in the "real world" was carried out by investigating psychopathological and temperamental features of a psychogeriatric cohort of LOBD and non-LOBD subjects.

METHODS

A total of 180 patients affected with BD-I, BD-II, and Cyclothymic Disorder were screened in a Mood Disorder Outpatient Service, during the timeframe January 2019-August 2021. Out of 78 enrolled outpatients, 66 (33 non-LOBD, 33 LOBD) were recruited, by the retrospective collection of sociodemographic, cognitive, psychopathological and clinical assessment, including the short-version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego (TEMPS-M).

RESULTS

LOBD is significantly associated with higher rates of BD-II diagnosis (χ² = 27.692, p < 0.001), depressive episodes (p = 0.025), mixed states (p = 0.009), predominant depressive and anxious affective temperaments (p < 0.001). Non-LOBD is significantly associated with higher endocrinological (χ² = 6.988, p = 0.008) and metabolic comorbidity (χ² = 5.987, p = 0.014), a diagnosis of BD-I, manic episodes, and predominant hyperthymic affective temperaments (p = 0.001). GDS (p < 0.001) and MSRS (p = 0.005) scores were significantly higher in LOBD.

CONCLUSION

Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes and a control group are needed to determine whether LOBD may represent a distinct psychopathological entity from non-LOBD and evaluate differences (if any) in terms of prognosis and treatment between non-LOBD and LOBD.

Frequency and clinical correlates of bipolar features in acute coronary syndrome patients

Background:

Depression and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are both extremely prevalent diseases. Studies aimed at evaluating whether depression is an independent risk factor for cardiac events provided no definitive results. In most of these studies, depression has been broadly defined with no differentiation between unipolar (MDD) versus bipolar forms (BD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of DSM-IV BD (bipolar I and bipolar II subtypes, cyclothymia), as well as temperamental or isolated bipolar features in a sample of 171 patients hospitalized for ACS. We also explored whether these psychopathological conditions were associated with some clinical characteristics of ACS.

Methods:

Patients with ACS admitted to three neighboring Cardiac Intensive Care Units (CICUs) in a 12-month continuative period of time were eligible for inclusion if they met the criteria for either acute myocardial infarct with or without ST-segment elevation or unstable angina, verified by standard ACS criteria. All patients underwent standardized cardiological and psychopathological evaluations.

Results:

Of the 171 ACS patients enrolled, 37 patients (21.7%) were found to have a DSM-IV mood disorder. Of these, 20 (11.7%) had bipolar type I or type II or cyclothymia, while 17 (10%) were the cases of MDD. Rapid mood switches ranged from 11% of ACS patients with no mood disorders, to 47% of those with MDD to 55% of those with BD. Linear regression analysis showed that a diagnosis of BD (p = .023), but not that of MDD (p = .721), was associated with a significant younger age at the index episode of ACS. A history of previous coronary events was more frequent in ACS patients with BD than in those with MDD.

Conclusions:

Our data indicate that bipolar features and diagnosis are frequent in ACS patients. Bipolar disorder has a negative impact on cardiac symptomatology. Further research in this area is warranted.

Bipolar spectrum disorder: What evidence for pharmacological treatment? A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD) is an extended concept of bipolar disorder (BD) that includes conditions that do not fulfill the criteria. There is no recommendation today about its treatment. We reviewed relevant literature focusing on pharmacological treatments, looking for high-strength evidence leading to guidelines.

METHODOLOGY

A literature search was conducted using MedLine / PubMed database and Google Scholar up to September 2018. Search words were related to BSD and pharmacological treatment.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 621 articles. Out of these, 35 articles met our selection criteria. There was limited high quality data. Only one randomized control trial (RCT) and one randomized open label trial were found. Most studies used different definition of BSD.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a considerable lack of data and no evidence supporting efficacy of pharmacological treatment for BSD. There is a need for a consensus on the definition of BSD and more evidence studies to evaluate drug's effectiveness in this condition.

Prediction of lithium response in first-episode mania using the LITHium Intelligent Agent (LITHIA): Pilot data and proof-of-concept

OBJECTIVES

Individualized treatment for bipolar disorder based on neuroimaging treatment targets remains elusive. To address this shortcoming, we developed a linguistic machine learning system based on a cascading genetic fuzzy tree (GFT) design called the LITHium Intelligent Agent (LITHIA). Using multiple objectively defined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹ H-MRS) inputs, we tested whether LITHIA could accurately predict the lithium response in participants with first-episode bipolar mania.

METHODS

We identified 20 subjects with first-episode bipolar mania who received an adequate trial of lithium over 8 weeks and both fMRI and ¹ H-MRS scans at baseline pre-treatment. We trained LITHIA using 18 ¹ H-MRS and 90 fMRI inputs over four training runs to classify treatment response and predict symptom reductions. Each training run contained a randomly selected 80% of the total sample and was followed by a 20% validation run. Over a different randomly selected distribution of the sample, we then compared LITHIA to eight common classification methods.

RESULTS

LITHIA demonstrated nearly perfect classification accuracy and was able to predict post-treatment symptom reductions at 8 weeks with at least 88% accuracy in training and 80% accuracy in validation. Moreover, LITHIA exceeded the predictive capacity of the eight comparator methods and showed little tendency towards overfitting.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provided proof-of-concept that a novel GFT is capable of providing control to a multidimensional bioinformatics problem-namely, prediction of the lithium response-in a pilot data set. Future work on this, and similar machine learning systems, could help assign psychiatric treatments more efficiently, thereby optimizing outcomes and limiting unnecessary treatment.

Bipolar disorder symptoms in patients seeking bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND

Mood disorders are common among patients seeking bariatric surgery although little data exist regarding the prevalence of bipolar symptoms in this population and how they influence surgical outcomes. Our aim was to describe baseline rates of bipolar symptoms and their relationship to psychological factors and completing surgery in a sample of adults seeking bariatric surgery at an academic medical center.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the relationship of bipolar symptoms to demographic characteristics, baseline weight, psychological factors, and bariatric surgery completion.

RESULTS

Nine hundred thirty-five patients completed the preoperative psychological evaluation. Six percent of the preoperative sample screened positive for symptoms of bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar symptoms endorsed more robust psychopathology, trauma history, and problematic eating behaviors than patients without bipolar symptoms. Twenty-two percent of the patients with bipolar symptoms underwent bariatric surgery (n = 12), yet only 13 % were denied bariatric surgery for psychiatric reasons, suggesting that other variables may influence the completion of bariatric surgery for these patients.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence rates of bipolar symptoms may be greater in patients seeking bariatric surgery compared with the general population, and few patients with bipolar symptoms actually undergo bariatric surgery. Psychological factors differentiate patients with bipolar symptoms who undergo bariatric surgery vs those who do not.

Validation of the "rule of three", the "red sign" and temperament as behavioral markers of bipolar spectrum disorders in a large sample

BACKGROUND

Akiskal proposed the "rule of three" for behavioral indicators with high specificity for bipolarity in patients with major depression episodes. We evaluated these distinctive behaviors in controls and subjects with major depression or bipolar disorder.

METHODS

data was collected in the BRAINSTEP project with questions on general behaviors, style and talents. Univariate analysis was first conducted in 36,742 subjects and confirmatory multivariate analysis in further 34,505 subjects (22% with a mood disorder). Odds ratios were calculated adjusting for age.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that 29 behavioral markers differentiated bipolar subjects from those with unipolar depression. The most robust differences in those with bipolarity (ORs >4) were ≥3 religion changes, ≥3 marriages, cheating the partner regularly, having ≥60 lifetime sexual partners, pathological love, heavy cursing, speaking ≥3 foreign languages, having ≥2 apparent tattoos, circadian dysregulation and high debts. Most behaviors were expressed in a minority of patients (usually around 5-30%) and usually the "rule of three" was the best numerical marker to distinguish those with bipolarity. However, multivariate analysis confirmed 11 of these markers for differentiating bipolar disorder from unipolar depression (reversed circadian rhythm and high debts for both genders, ≥3 provoked car accidents and talent for poetry in men, and frequent book reading, ≥3 religion changes, ≥60 sexual partners, pathological love ≥2 times, heavy cursing and extravagant dressing style in women).

LIMITATIONS

Self-report data collection only.

CONCLUSIONS

These behavioral markers should alert the clinician to perform a thorough investigation of bipolarity in patients presenting with a depressive episode.

Mixed states in DSM-5: implications for clinical care, education, and research

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) nomenclature for the co-occurrence of manic and depressive symptoms (mixed states) has been revised in the new DSM-5 version to accommodate a mixed categorical-dimensional concept. The new classification will capture subthreshold non-overlapping symptoms of the opposite pole using a "with mixed features" specifier to be applied to manic episodes in bipolar disorder I (BD I), hypomanic, and major depressive episodes experienced in BD I, BD II, bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, and major depressive disorder. The revision will have a substantial impact in several fields: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, research, education, and regulations. The new concept is data-driven and overcomes the problems derived from the extremely narrow definition in the DSM-IV-TR. However, it is unclear how clinicians will deal with the possibility of diagnosing major depression with mixed features and how this may impact the bipolar-unipolar dichotomy and diagnostic reliability. Clinical trials may also need to address treatment effects according to the presence or absence of mixed features. The medications that are effective in treating mixed episodes per the DSM-IV-TR definition may also be effective in treating mixed features per the DSM-5, but new studies are needed to demonstrate it.

To be or not to be a bipolar disorder patient: problems with diagnosis

The diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) is predominantly clinical. Some authors have suggested that BD is underdiagnosed and that many patients, particularly those with major depressive disorder, actually have BD. Some studies have suggested that BD is wrongly diagnosed, probably because of the idea of a "bipolar spectrum." To address this potential overdiagnosis, clinicians should carefully and systematically assess whether symptoms are included in diagnostic criteria and include the individual context of the patient.

Subthreshold bipolar disorder in a U.S. national representative sample: prevalence, correlates and perspectives for psychiatric nosography

OBJECTIVE

There is growing clinical and epidemiological evidence that undiagnosed bipolar features are source of clinical heterogeneity in major depressive disorder (MDD). This study examined and compared the prevalence and correlates of lifetime major depressive episode plus subthreshold hypomania D(m) with pure MDD, bipolar II disorder, and bipolar I disorder.

METHOD

Data were drawn from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a large cross-sectional survey (n=43,093) representative of the U.S. population.

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalences were 2.53% for D(m), 1.12% for bipolar II disorder, 2.19% for bipolar I disorder and 10.70% for pure MDD. All bipolar disorders (i.e., D(m), BP-II, and BP-I) were half as frequent as MDD. Lifetime and 12-month psychiatric comorbidity, course and clinical characteristics, symptoms, health status and treatment-seeking rates were significantly different in participants with lifetime D(m) when compared to participants with pure MDD, but not when compared to participants with bipolar II disorder.

LIMITATIONS

Subthreshold hypomania diagnostic was based on the lifetime presence of at least one of the three screening questions for criterion A for hypomania, without a lifetime history of manic or hypomanic episode. This narrow definition, both in terms of the choice of hypomanic symptoms and their duration, could have led to an underestimation of the proportion of participants with a lifetime history of D(m). In addition, the cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow causal associations to be drawn.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data confirm and extend evidence of the clinical significance and validity of a subthreshold bipolarity-specifier applied to individuals with DSM-IV MDD. Major depression with subthreshold hypomania could be more accurately incorporated into the bipolar II disorder diagnosis.

How does a Developmental Perspective inform us about the early Natural History of Bipolar Disorder?

OBJECTIVE

The focus of this paper is to explore how a developmental perspective can advance understanding of the clinical trajectory into bipolar disorder (BD) and clarify controversies regarding the diagnosis in youth.

METHOD

In this selective review, we focus on findings from longitudinal studies of general population and high-risk pediatric cohorts in order to inform our understanding of the development of BD in youth. Also highlighted are related aspects of the debate about the diagnosis in young children and a discussion of the implications of the findings for advancing early detection and intervention clinical and research efforts.

RESULTS

Evidence overwhelmingly suggests that BD typically onsets in adolescence and early adulthood, with the depressive polarity of the illness dominating the early course. Non-specific childhood antecedents have been noted in some high-risk individuals. However, in youth without a confirmed familial risk of BD, manic-like symptoms have little prognostic significance for BD and not uncommonly form part of the normative adolescent experience. Over-emphasis of symptoms and reliance on parent report alone, alongside the relative neglect of the child's developmental stage and risk profile, contributes to the over diagnosis in young children and under recognition of BD early in the clinical course.

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal population and high-risk studies over development have made major contributions to our understanding of the early natural history of BD in youth. Implications call for a different diagnostic approach to facilitate accurate identification of youth in the early clinical stages of psychiatric disorders and to differentiate between the emerging illness trajectories and transient normative symptoms in childhood and adolescence.

Bipolar disorder: the shift to overdiagnosis

Sometimes dramatically changing vogues in diagnostic practice in psychiatry resemble the volatility of international share markets. One such quickly shifting diagnostic area has been that of bipolar disorder (BD). Historically regarded as a relatively uncommon condition until recent decades, the construct of BD underwent a major expansion in the 1990s and 2000s with promulgation of the concept of the soft bipolar spectrum disorder, from which the recent research focus on subthreshold BD presentations was derived. Related to this has been renewed interest in treatments for BD from the pharmaceutical industry. The increasing rates of diagnosis have largely related to BD II, for which there has been a dramatic broadening of diagnostic criteria. This article critically reviews research data, both for broadening the diagnostic criteria for BD and, conversely, for the growing evidence of overdiagnosis in clinical practice. Why does this debate matter? I would suggest that there are many valid reasons to be concerned about overdiagnosis: first, the potential for overtreatment or inappropriate treatment of such patients with mood stabilizing treatments, including antipsychotics; second, the potential for diagnostic oversimplification, with consequent diagnostic deskilling and loss of credibility for the psychiatric profession; and third, the potential major impact on etiologic research for this condition. Psychiatry should not uncritically accept the shift to overdiagnosis, which has developed a rapid momentum in recent decades, in both clinical and academic circles. We must ensure, as a profession, that any change in diagnostic practice is underpinned by rigorous and critical research inquiry.

Diagnosing bipolar disorder in the community setting

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric illness. Diagnosing this condition is challenging, due to the frequent need to make the diagnosis based on historical symptoms, the lack of specificity of many of the symptoms, and the absence of accurate objective measures to confirm the diagnosis. A lack of consensus among psychiatrists as to the breadth of the diagnosis, increasing pressures to make a diagnosis quickly in clinical settings, and the availability of broader spectrum treatments have also served to foster uncertainty in diagnosis. This article examines the process of diagnosing BD, reviews factors that can confound the diagnostic process, and discusses how the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis can be improved.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search and a manual search of textbooks and abstracts from scientific meetings were conducted. Results were limited to publications in English, but no timeframe limitations were used.

RESULTS

The standard for diagnosing BD remains the psychiatric interview, with laboratory, genetic, radiographic, and neuroimaging tests still investigational, and psychological tests and questionnaires serving an ancillary role. The sensitivity and specificity of the BD diagnosis is less than optimal, with the condition being both overlooked and diagnosed when it is not present.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors leading to diagnostic uncertainty and approaches to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the BD diagnosis are discussed. A paradigm for differentiating between BD and borderline personality disorder is offered.

Will disruptive mood dysregulation disorder reduce false diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children?

OBJECTIVES

The frequency of diagnosis of bipolar disorder has risen dramatically in children and adolescents. The DSM-V Work Group has suggested a new diagnosis termed disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) (formerly temper dysregulation disorder with dysphoria) to reduce the rate of false diagnosis of bipolar disorder in young people. We sought to determine if the application of the proposed diagnostic criteria for DMDD would reduce the rate of diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty-two consecutively hospitalized children, ages 5 to 12 years, on a children's inpatient unit were rigorously diagnosed using admission interviews of the parents and the child, rating scales, and observation over the course of hospitalization.

RESULTS

Overall, 30.5% of inpatient children met criteria for DMDD by parent report, and 15.9% by inpatient unit observation. Fifty-six percent of inpatient children had parent-reported manic symptoms. Of those, 45.7% met criteria for DMDD by parent-report, though only 17.4% did when observed on the inpatient unit.

CONCLUSION

Although DMDD does decrease the rate of diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children, how much depends on whether history or observation is used.

Rethinking the classification of mixed affective episodes in ICD-11

Mixed affective episode is a prevalent mood disorder characterized by the coexistence or rapid alternation of manic and depressive symptoms, which is associated with significant suffering and high risk of suicide. Unfortunately, the current diagnostic classification of mixed affective episodes in the ICD-10 lacks a detailed definition with relevant subtypes. This inconsistency has significant negative implications for both research into the disorders in the bipolar spectrum and for clinical practice. For this reason there is a need for special attention on this diagnosis in the revisions of the diagnostic manuals. In this manuscript we suggest a set of clear diagnostic criteria and exhaustive subtypes for the mixed affective episodes aimed at the upcoming ICD-11. The defined syndrome and its subtypes are in close congruence with the suggested DSM-5 "mixed episode specifier", which is an advantage for common understanding and for research across the ICD/DSM border.

Predominant recurrence polarity among 928 adult international bipolar I disorder patients

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) differ demographically and clinically within subgroups based on the predominant-polarity of major recurrences.

METHOD

We tested factors for association with predominantly (≥2 : 1) depressive vs. mania-like episodes with 928 DSM-IV type-I BPD subjects from five international sites.

RESULTS

Factors preliminarily associated with predominant-depression included: electroconvulsive treatment, longer latency-to-BPD diagnosis, first episode depressive or mixed, more suicide attempts, more Axis-II comorbidity, ever having mixed-states, ever married, and female sex. Predominant-mania was associated with: initial manic or psychotic episodes, more drug abuse, more education, and more family psychiatric history. Of the 47.3% of subjects without polarity-predominance, risks for all factors considered were intermediate. Expanding the definition of polarity-predominance to ≥51% added little, but shifting mixed-states to 'predominant-depression' increased risk of suicidal acts from 2.4- to 4.5-fold excess over predominant-mania-hypomania, and suicidal risk was associated continuously with increasing proportions of depressive or mixed episodes.

CONCLUSION

Subtyping by predominant-polarity yielded predictive associations, including the polarity of first episodes and risk of suicide attempts. Such subtyping may contribute to improve planning of clinical care and to biological studies of BPD.