1
|
Fiorillo A, Sampogna G, Albert U, Maina G, Perugi G, Pompili M, Rosso G, Sani G, Tortorella A. Facts and myths about the use of lithium for bipolar disorder in routine clinical practice: an expert consensus paper. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2023; 22:50. [PMID: 38057894 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-023-00481-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder is one of the most burdensome severe mental disorders, characterized by high levels of personal and social disability. Patients often need an integrated pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach. Lithium is one of the most effective treatments available not only in psychiatry, but in the whole medicine, and its clinical efficacy is superior to that of other mood stabilizers. However, a declining trend on lithium prescriptions has been observed worldwide in the last 20 years, supporting the notion that lithium is a 'forgotten drug' and highlighting that the majority of patients with bipolar disorder are missing out the best available pharmacological option. Based on such premises, a narrative review has been carried out on the most common "misconceptions" and "stereotypes" associated with lithium treatment; we also provide a list of "good reasons" for using lithium in ordinary clinical practice to overcome those false myths. MAIN TEXT A narrative search of the available literature has been performed entering the following keywords: "bipolar disorder", "lithium", "myth", "mythology", "pharmacological treatment", and "misunderstanding". The most common false myths have been critically revised and the following statements have been proposed: (1) Lithium should represent the first choice for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder; (2) lithium treatment is effective in different patients' groups suffering from bipolar disorder; (3) Drug-drug interaction risk can be easily managed during lithium treatment; (4) The optimal management of lithium treatment includes periodical laboratory tests; (5) Slow-release lithium formulation has advantages compared to immediate release formulation; (6) Lithium treatment has antisuicidal properties; (7) Lithium can be carefully managed during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS In recent years, a discrepancy between evidence-based recommendations and clinical practice in using lithium treatment for patients with bipolar disorder has been highlighted. It is time to disseminate clear and unbiased information on the clinical efficacy, effectiveness, tolerability and easiness to use of lithium treatment in patients with bipolar disorder. It is necessary to reinvigorate the clinical and academic discussion about the efficacy of lithium, to counteract the decreasing prescription trend of one of the most effective drugs available in the whole medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie, Naples, Italy
| | - Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie, Naples, Italy.
| | - Umberto Albert
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maina
- San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulio Perugi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital - Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Rosso
- San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sampogna G, Caraci F, Carmassi C, Dell'Osso B, Ferrari S, Martinotti G, Sani G, Serafini G, Signorelli MS, Fiorillo A. Efficacy and tolerability of desvenlafaxine in the real-world treatment of patients with major depression: a narrative review and an expert opinion paper. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:1511-1525. [PMID: 37450377 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2237410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common severe mental disorder, requiring a tailored and integrated treatment. Several approaches are available including different classes of antidepressants various psychotherapeutic approaches, and psychosocial interventions. The treatment plan for each patient with MDD should be differentiated on the basis of several clinical, personal, and contextual factors. AREAS COVERED Desvenlafaxine - a serotonine-noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant - has been approved in the United States in 2008 for the treatment of MDD in adults, and has been recently rediscovered by clinicians due to its good side-effect profile and its clinical effectiveness. A narrative review on efficacy, tolerability and use of desvenlafaxine in clinical practice was carried out. The keywords: 'major depression', 'depression,' 'desvenlafaxine,' 'efficacy,' 'clinical efficacy,' 'side effects', 'tolerability,' 'elderly patients', 'consultation-liaison', 'menopausal', 'young people', 'adolescent' were entered in PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus and Medline. No time limit was fixed, the search strategy was implemented on May 10, 2023. EXPERT OPINION Desvenlafaxine should be listed among the optimal treatment strategies for managing people with MDD, whose main strengths are: 1) ease of dosing; 2) favorable safety and tolerability profile, 3) absence of sexual dysfunctions, weight gain and low rate of discontinuation symptoms; 4) low risk of drug-drug interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Unit of Neuropharmacology and Translational Neurosciences, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | | | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Neuroscience Research Center, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences and Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Silvia Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Dipartimento Ad attività Integrata di Salute Mentale E Dipendenze Patologiche, Azienda USL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Child Health, Psychiatry Section, University of Genoa, IRCCS, San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience Head, Neck and Thorax, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Salvina Signorelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, AOU Policlinico Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
The Impact of Affective Temperaments on Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: Results from an Observational Multicentric Study on Patients with Mood Disorders. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13010117. [PMID: 36672098 PMCID: PMC9856472 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13010117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicide ideation and behaviors are major health issues in the field of mental health. Several psychological and psychosocial factors have been taken into account as possible predictors of suicidality. Only recently affective temperaments have been considered as possible factors linked to suicide. This study aims to investigate the relationship between affective temperaments and suicidality, including the lifetime onset of suicide ideation, lifetime presence of suicide attempts and the total number of lifetime suicide attempts. This is a naturalistic multicentric observational study, involving outpatient units of seven University sites in Italy. Patients were administered with the short version of TEMPS-M and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. A total of 653 participants were recruited, with a diagnosis of bipolar (55.7%), unipolar (35.8%) and cyclothymic disorder (8.4%). Regression models showed that the presence of lifetime suicide behaviors was increased in patients presenting trait related impulsivity (p < 0.0001), poor free-interval functioning (p < 0.05), higher number of affective episodes (p < 0.01), higher number of hospitalizations (p < 0.0001), cyclothymic and irritable affective temperaments (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). Conversely, the presence of hyperthymic affective disposition reduced the likelihood of having suicidal behaviors (p < 0.01). Lifetime suicidal ideation was associated with trait-related impulsivity (p < 0.001), poor free-interval functioning (p < 0.05), higher number of affective episodes (p < 0.001) and of hospitalizations (p < 0.001). Depressive temperaments increased the likelihood of presenting suicidal ideation (p < 0.05), along with irritable temperaments (p < 0.01), contrary to hyperthymic affective (p < 0.05). Results of the present study confirm that affective disposition has a significant impact on the onset of suicidal ideation and behaviors, and that affective dispositions should be assessed in clinical settings to identify people at risk of suicide. Moreover, a wider clinical evaluation, including different clinical psychopathological dimensions, should be taken into consideration to develop effective preventive interventions.
Collapse
|
4
|
Di Vincenzo M, Sampogna G, Della Rocca B, Brandi C, Mancuso E, Landolfi L, Volpicelli A, Di Cerbo A, Fiorillo A, Luciano M. What influences psychological functioning in patients with mood disorders? The role of clinical, sociodemographic, and temperamental characteristics in a naturalistic study. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2022; 21:51. [PMID: 36566232 PMCID: PMC9789623 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-022-00428-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study aims to assess clinical and psychological correlates of psychological functioning in patients with mood disorders, in a naturalistic setting. In particular, we aimed to describe which sociodemographic, clinical, and temperamental dispositions are more frequently associated with poor psychological functioning, and to describe the association between cognitive and psychological functioning in euthymic patients with major depression and bipolar disorder. METHODS Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) diagnosis of major depression, or bipolar disorder type I or II; (2) age between 18 and 65 years; and (3) being in a stable phase of the disorder. Patients' psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, affective temperaments, and impulsivity were investigated with validated assessment instruments. RESULTS 166 patients have been recruited, mainly female (55.4%), whose mean age was 47.1 ± 14.2 years. 42.6% of individuals reported a diagnosis of major depression. According to regression analyses, poor cognitive performance (p < 0.05), reduced perceived quality of life (p < .0001), lifetime suicide attempts (p < 0.01), and increased trait-related impulsivity (p <0 .001) strongly correlated with poor psychological functioning. Moreover, cyclothymic and irritable dispositions were also associated with poor social functioning (p < 0.01), whereas hyperthymic affective disposition was associated to a better psychological performance (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results support the evidence that patients with mood disorders should be assessed for psychological functioning and affective dispositions, to identify patients at higher risk to develop worse long-term outcomes and to develop targeted interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Di Vincenzo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy.
| | - Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Bianca Della Rocca
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlotta Brandi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Emiliana Mancuso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Landolfi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Volpicelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Di Cerbo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Luciano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna Delle Grazie, 80139, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|