Non-invasive vascular imaging is associated with cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents with bipolar disorder

Atherosclerosis and depression: is carotid intima-media thicker in patients with depression compared to matched control individuals? A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if there is an association between atherosclerosis and depression by using as imaging biomarker the carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis.

METHODS

PubMed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were comprehensively searched to identify studies investigating the association between cIMT and depression. The results were pooled using a random-effects statistical model, appropriate for the expected high heterogeneity. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted where data was available.

RESULTS

Overall, 22 and 13 studies met inclusion criteria for the qualitative and the quantitative synthesis, respectively, with a total of 4466 patients and 21,635 control participants. Results showed that cIMT is significantly higher in the depression, compared to the control groups with an overall mean difference of 0.07 mm (95% CI 0.04-0.10, p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that diabetes could present as a confounding factor in patients with depression and an increased cIMT.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms a significantly increased cIMT in patients with depression, compared with controls and suggests a possible bidirectional link between atherosclerosis and depression. An early screening of cardiovascular disease in individuals suffering with depression should be considered.

Cerebral Blood Flow and Core Mood Symptoms in Youth Bipolar Disorder: Evidence for Region-Symptom Specificity

OBJECTIVE

Building on prior findings in adults, this study investigated regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in relation to DSM-5 criterion A symptoms of depression and mania in youth with bipolar disorder (BD).

METHOD

The study recruited 81 youths with BD and 75 healthy controls 13-20 years old. CBF was ascertained using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Region-of-interest analyses examined the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), middle frontal gyrus, and global gray matter CBF. The association of criterion A depression and mania symptoms with CBF was examined dimensionally in youth with BD in regression analyses with continuous symptom severity scores. Age and sex were included as covariates. False discovery rate (FDR) was used to correct for 28 tests (4 regions by 7 symptoms; α < .0017). CBF for BD and healthy control groups was compared to give context for findings.

RESULTS

In youth with BD, depressed mood inversely correlated with ACC (β = -0.31, p_uncorrected = .004, p_FDR = .056) and global (β = -0.27, p_uncorrected = .013, p_FDR = .09) CBF. The same pattern was observed for anhedonia (ACC CBF: β = -0.33, p_uncorrected = .004, p_FDR = .056; global CBF: β = -0.29, p_uncorrected = .008, p_FDR = .07). There were no significant findings for manic symptoms or in BD vs healthy control contrasts.

CONCLUSION

The present findings, while not significant after correction for multiple testing, highlight the potential value of focusing on ACC in relation to depressed mood and anhedonia, and demonstrate that CBF is sensitive to depression symptom severity in youth. Lack of findings regarding manic symptoms may relate to the exclusion of fully manic participants in this outpatient sample.

Levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells inversely correlate with manic and positive symptom severity in patients with bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVES

Patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) are at high risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that are attributed to endothelial dysfunction. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are proposed as indicators of endothelial dysfunction. This study examined the relationship of cEPC numbers with BPD diagnosis and its clinical symptoms in patients with BPD.

METHODS

We recruited 48 patients with BPD and 50 healthy controls (HCs). All the patients had scores of <13 on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). In addition to the YMRS and Clinical Global Impression for BPD (CGI-BP), bipolar patients were assessed using relevant measurements for their depression, anxiety, general psychopathology, cognitive dysfunction and deficit, somatic symptoms, quality of life, and level of disability. cEPC counts were measured using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The numbers of immature and mature cEPCs in the bipolar patients did not significantly differ from those in the HCs. After correction for multiple comparisons and controlling for body mass index and smokers, the number of immature cEPCs was observed to be inversely correlated with CGI-BP (corrected p [p_corr ] = .00018) and positive scores in the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS-P; p_corr  = .0049). The number of mature cEPCs was inversely correlated with YMRS (p_corr  = .014), CGI-BP (p_corr  = .00022), and PANSS-P (p_corr  = .0049) scores. In multivariate stepwise analysis, numbers of both types of cEPCs were associated with CGI-BP.

CONCLUSIONS

cEPC levels, an indicator of endothelial dysfunction and risk of CVDs, may be associated manic and positive symptom severities in patients with BPD.

Mind-Body Connection: Cardiovascular Sequelae of Psychiatric Illness

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Mental health disorders are associated with the onset and progression of cardiac disease. The adverse sequelae of this association include worsened quality of life, adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and heightened mortality. The increased prevalence of CVD is partly explained by increased rates of traditional cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and smoking, but mental illness is an independent risk factor for CVD and mortality. Given the association between mental health disorders and poor cardiovascular health, it is vital to have an early and accurate identification and treatment of these disorders. Our review article shares the current literature on the adverse cardiovascular events associated with psychiatric disorders. We present a review on depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, type A and D personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and stress.

Preclinical atherosclerosis in adolescents with psychotic or bipolar disorders investigated with carotid high-frequency ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

Early-onset psychosis (EOP) and bipolar disorder (EOBP) (at <18 years of age), are associated with an increased future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death. Yet it is unknown whether the arteries show visible signs of atherosclerosis in EOP and EOBP. This study investigated whether having EOP or EOBP was associated with detectable signs of preclinical atherosclerosis.

METHOD

By using 22 MHz high-frequency ultrasound, different layers of the arterial wall of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) were assessed in 77 individuals with EOP (n = 25), EOBP (n = 22), and in age-matched healthy controls (n = 30). Conventional CVD confounders were included in the analyses.

RESULTS

Adolescents with EOP and EOBP, compared to controls, had a significantly thicker LCCA intima thickness (0.132 vs. 0.095 mm, p < .001) and intima/media ratio (0.24 vs. 0.17 p < .001). There was a nonsignificant intima difference between EOP and EOBP. Conventional CVD risk factors did not explain the association between EOP/EOBP and intima thickness. In the group of EOP/EOBP, there was a significant correlation between the dose of current antipsychotic medication and intima thickness; however, the correlation was attenuated to a nonsignificant level when adjusted for global function.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with EOP or EOBP had an increased LCCA intima thickness, interpreted as a sign of preclinical atherosclerosis. Global function of the disorders was the strongest determinant of intima thickness. The findings, if replicated, might have implications for long-term treatment of EOP and EOBP in order to reduce a future risk of CVD.

The association between carotid atherosclerosis and treatment with lithium and antipsychotics in patients with bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVES

Patients with bipolar disorder are at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. Among cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of premature death and both share the pathogenesis of arterial atherosclerosis. Increased carotid intima-media thickness is sensitive for detecting early atherosclerosis and a practical index for predicting cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies investigated carotid intima-media thickness in adults with bipolar disorder. We attempted to determine the factors associated with carotid intima-media thickness in adults with bipolar disorder.

METHODS

The euthymic out-patients with bipolar I disorder aged over 20 years were recruited to measure the carotid intima-media thickness value through B-mode carotid ultrasound. Those with any psychiatric disorder, acute or life-threatening medical condition were excluded. All clinical information was obtained by reviewing medical records and directly interviewing patients with reliable others.

RESULTS

Of the 106 participants with a mean age of 44.5 years, 40.6% (N = 43) had concurrent cardiovascular/endocrine/metabolic diseases. A multivariate regression indicated that higher assumed daily lithium dosage was significantly associated with a decreased carotid intima-media thickness in the whole sample. In the young subgroup (⩽45 years old, N = 63), higher current daily lithium dosage and lower body mass index were associated with lower carotid intima-media thickness. In those without concurrent cardiovascular/endocrine/metabolic diseases, higher ratio of first-generation antipsychotics exposure in relation to illness chronicity was associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness, after controlling for body mass index or age.

CONCLUSION

Lithium treatment may be associated with less progression in carotid intima-media thickness and the reduced risk for atherosclerosis in adults with bipolar disorder, including those with high cardiovascular disease risk. In addition to age and body mass index, antipsychotics may increase carotid intima-media thickness even in the low cardiovascular disease-risk patients.

Understanding Aging in Bipolar Disorder by Integrating Archival Clinical Research Datasets

OBJECTIVE

Although 25% of people with bipolar disorder (BD) are over age 60, there is a dearth of research on older age bipolar disorder (OABD). This report describes an initial effort to create an integrated OABD database using the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive (NDA). Goals were to: 1) combine data from three BD studies in the United States that included overlapping data elements; 2) investigate research questions related to aims of the original studies; and 3) take an important first step toward combining existing datasets relevant to aging and BD.

METHODS

Data were prepared and uploaded to the NDA, with a focus on data elements common to all studies. As appropriate, data were harmonized to select or collapse categories suitable for cross-walk analysis. Associations between age, BD symptoms, functioning, medication load, medication adherence, and medical comorbidities were assessed. The total sample comprised 451 individuals, mean age 57.7 (standard deviation: 13.1) years.

RESULTS

Medical comorbidity was not significantly associated with either age or functioning and there did not appear to be an association between medication load, comorbidity, age, and adherence. Men and African-Americans were significantly more likely to have poor adherence. Both BD mania and depression symptoms were associated with functioning, but this differed across studies.

CONCLUSION

Despite limitations including heterogeneity in study design and samples and cross-sectional methodology, integrated datasets represent an opportunity to better understand how aging may impact the presentation and evolution of chronic mental health disorders across the lifespan.

Bipolar disorder and related mood states are not associated with endothelial function of small arteries in adults without heart disease

BACKGROUND

Individuals with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. This study aimed to assess endothelial function and wave reflection, a risk factor for CVD, as measured by finger plethysmography in bipolar disorder to investigate whether CVD risk was higher in bipolar disorder and altered during acute mood episodes. We hypothesized that EndoPAT would detect a lower reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and higher augmentation index (AIX) in individuals with bipolar disorder compared with controls. Second, we predicted lower RHI and higher AIX during acute mood episodes.

METHODS

Reactive hyperemia index and augmentation index, measures of microvascular endothelial function and arterial pressure wave reflection respectively, were assessed using the EndoPAT 2000 device in a sample of 56 participants with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I disorder with 82 measures spanning different mood states (mania, depression, euthymia) and cross-sectionally in 26 healthy controls.

RESULTS

RHI and AIX were not different between adults with and without bipolar disorder (mean age 40.3 vs. 41.2years; RHI: 2.04±0.67 vs. 2.05±0.51; AIX@75 (AIX adjusted for heart rate of 75): 1.4±19.7 vs. 0.8±22.4). When modeled in linear mixed models with a random intercept (to account for repeated observations of persons with bipolar disorder) and adjusting for age and sex, there were no significant differences between those with bipolar disorder and controls (p=0.89 for RHI; p=0.85 for AIX@75).

CONCLUSIONS

Microvascular endothelial function and wave reflection estimated by finger plethysmography were unable to detect differences between adults with and without bipolar disorder or changes with mood states. Future research is necessary to identify more proximal and sensitive, yet relevant, biomarkers of abnormal mood-related influences on CVD risk or must target higher risk samples.

A report on older-age bipolar disorder from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Task Force

OBJECTIVES

In the coming generation, older adults with bipolar disorder (BD) will increase in absolute numbers as well as proportion of the general population. This is the first report of the International Society for Bipolar Disorder (ISBD) Task Force on Older-Age Bipolar Disorder (OABD).

METHODS

This task force report addresses the unique aspects of OABD including epidemiology and clinical features, neuropathology and biomarkers, physical health, cognition, and care approaches.

RESULTS

The report describes an expert consensus summary on OABD that is intended to advance the care of patients, and shed light on issues of relevance to BD research across the lifespan. Although there is still a dearth of research and health efforts focused on older adults with BD, emerging data have brought some answers, innovative questions, and novel perspectives related to the notion of late onset, medical comorbidity, and the vexing issue of cognitive impairment and decline.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving our understanding of the biological, clinical, and social underpinnings relevant to OABD is an indispensable step in building a complete map of BD across the lifespan.

Association between history of psychosis and cardiovascular disease in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether clinical features of bipolar disorder, such as history of psychosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors contribute to a higher risk of CVD among patients with bipolar disorder.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included a sample of 988 patients with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder or schizoaffective bipolar type confirmed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR disorders (SCID). Medical comorbidity burden was quantified utilizing the Cumulative Illness Severity Rating Scale (CIRS). This 13-item organ-based scale includes cardiac disease severity quantification. Confirmed by medical record review, patients who scored 1 (current mild or past significant problem) or higher in the cardiac item were compared by logistic regression to patients who scored 0 (no impairment), adjusting for CVD risk factors that were selected using a backwards stepwise approach or were obtained from the literature.

RESULTS

In a multivariate model, age [odds ratio (OR) = 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-5.54, p < 0.0001], hypertension (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.69-3.55, p < 0.0001), and history of psychosis (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03-2.13, p = 0.03) were associated with CVD. When CVD risk factors from the literature were added to the analysis, age (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.67-6.10, p = 0.0005) and hypertension (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.61-3.76, p < 0.01) remained significant, with psychosis being at the trend level (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.96-2.13, p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

The phenotype of psychotic bipolar disorder may reflect higher illness severity with associated cardiac comorbidity. Further studies are encouraged to clarify the effect of the disease burden (i.e., depression), lifestyle, and treatment interventions (i.e., atypical antipsychotics) on this risk association.