Coexistence of bulimia nervosa and mania: a literature review and case report

[Affective disorders and eating disorders]

Epidemiologic studies show a frequent co-occurence of affective and eating disorders. The incidence of one disorder in patients suffering from the other disorder is well over the incidence in the general population. Several causes could explain this increased comorbidity. First, the iatrogenic origin is detailed. Indeed, psychotropic drugs, and particularly mood stabilizers, often lead to modification in eating behaviors, generally inducing weight gain. These drugs can increase desire for food, reduce baseline metabolism or decrease motor activity. Also, affective and eating disorders share several characteristics in semiology. These similarities can not only obscure the differential diagnosis but may also attest of conjoint pathophysiological bases in the two conditions. However, genetic and biological findings so far are too sparse to corroborate this last hypothesis. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that comorbidity of affective and eating disorders worsens patients'prognosis and is associated with more severe forms of affective disorders characterized by an earlier age of onset in the disease, higher number of mood episodes and a higher suicidality. Lastly, psychotropic drugs used in affective disorders (lithium, antiepileptic mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants) are reviewed in order to weigh their efficacy in eating disorders. This could help establish the best therapeutic option when confronted to comorbidity.

Comorbidity of eating disorders with bipolar disorder and treatment implications

OBJECTIVES

To review the scientific evidence examining the comorbidity among eating disorders and bipolar disorder (BD).

METHODS

We reviewed all published English-language studies addressing the comorbidity of anorexia nervosa, bulimia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder in patients with BD and studies of comorbidity of BD in patients with eating disorders. In addition, we discuss the pharmacologic treatment implications from reviewed studies of agents used in BD and eating disorders.

RESULTS

Community and clinical population studies of the lifetime prevalence rates of eating disorders in patients with BD, and of BD in patients with eating disorders, particularly when subthreshold and spectrum manifestations of these disorders are included, indicate high rates of comorbidity among these illnesses.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacologic treatment approaches to patients with BD and a co-occurring eating disorder require examination of the possible adverse effects of the treatment of each syndrome on the other and attempts to manage both syndromes with agents that might be beneficial to both.

Comorbidity of bipolar and eating disorders: distinct or related disorders with shared dysregulations?

BACKGROUND

The co-occurrence of bipolar and eating disorders, though of major clinical and public health importance, remains relatively unexamined.

METHODS

In reviewing the literature on this comorbidity, we compared bulimia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorders and bipolar disorders on phenomenology, course, family history, biology, and treatment response.

RESULTS

Epidemiological studies show an association between subthreshold bipolar disorder and eating disorders in adolescents, and between hypomania and eating disorders, especially binge eating behavior, in adults. Of the clinical studies, most show that patients with bipolar disorder have elevated rates of eating disorders, and vice versa. Finally, the phenomenology, course, comorbidity, family history, and pharmacologic treatment response of these disorders show considerable overlap on all of these parameters. In particular, on phenomenologic grounds--eating dysregulation, mood dysregulation, impulsivity and compulsivity, craving for activity and/or exercise--we find many parallels between bipolar and eating disorders. Overall, the similarities between these disorders were more apparent when examined in their spectrum rather than full-blown expressions.

LIMITATIONS

Despite an extensive literature on each of these disorders, studies examining their overlap across all these parameters are relatively sparse and insufficiently systematic.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonetheless, the reviewed literature leaves little doubt that bipolar and eating disorders--particularly bulimia nervosa and bipolar II disorder--are related. Although several antidepressants and mood stabilizers have shown promise for eating disorders, their clinical use when these disorders co-exist with bipolarity is still very much of an art. We trust that this review will stimulate more rigorous research in their shared putative underlying psychobiologic mechanisms which, in turn, could lead to more rational targeted treatments.

Transtornos alimentares e os espectros do humor e obsessivo-compulsivo

Revisamos os estudos clínicos e biológicos que sugerem que os transtornos alimentares (TA) são expressões fenotípicas de outros transtornos psiquiátricos e parte de espectros de psicopatologia, em especial dos espectros dos transtornos do humor e do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo. A investigação da relação entre os TA e outros transtornos psiquiátricos através dos modelos espectrais pode proporcionar um melhor entendimento da fisiopatologia destas síndromes e a elaboração de tratamentos mais eficazes. Entretanto, o reconhecimento de que os TA possuem características peculiares e a adoção de uma postura crítica em relação a modelos que eliminam limites diagnósticos são também fundamentais para a evolução do conhecimento no campo.

The co-occurrence of mania with medical and other psychiatric disorders

OBJECTIVE

The co-occurrence of mania with other medical and psychiatric disorders has been little studied. The authors reviewed the literature in order to clarify the current state of knowledge of this subject and to identify possible areas of future research.

METHODS

Published articles which specifically addressed associations of mania with medical disorders and other psychiatric syndromes were identified using the Paperchase medical literature search system and by cross-referencing from other published work. The articles were then organized into three categories: 1) medical disorders associated with secondary mania; 2) medical comorbidity in bipolar disorder; and 3) psychiatric comorbidity in bipolar disorder.

RESULTS

The review of medical illness and secondary mania supports the hypothesis that injuries involving right-side and mid-line brain structures are associated with so-called secondary mania. Additionally, an association between bipolar disorder and migraine is identified. Several psychiatric disorders appear to occur with mania at rates higher than expected including obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, impulse control disorders, and substance abuse.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors discuss the potential implications of these findings and suggest research approaches to further examine the relationships between mania and other medical and psychiatric syndromes.

New aspects of diagnosis and pharmacotherapy of eating disorders

This paper points out recent diagnostic features of bulimia and anorexia nervosa and of the recently defined 'binge eating disorder'. The pharmacologic treatment approaches for these conditions will be reviewed by discussing the results of randomized controlled studies. For anorexia nervosa (AN), the outcome of pharmacotherapy has been poor, in contrast to bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), where pharmacological treatment, primarily with antidepressants, has proved to be effective, at least in the short run. However, long-term outcome studies are still awaited. (MJ Psych Clin Pract 1997; 1: 21-35).

The epidemiology of bipolar affective disorder

This paper reviews the current position of studies on the epidemiology of bipolar affective disorder. A disorder that cannot be recognized until sometime after its onset poses special difficulties for epidemiological study. These are discussed and attempts made to solve them. Community psychiatric surveys suggest a morbid risk of bipolar disorder of around 2-2.5%, but probably include many false-positives. Studies of treated cases indicate a morbid risk of 0.5%, but will miss untreated cases. It is probably reasonable to suggest a compromise value of 1-1.5%; bipolar disorder is thus still a rare condition. It is possible to quantify the unipolar-bipolar conversion rate, which is of the order of 5%, and is of particular interest that female sufferers have proportionately fewer manic episodes. Age at onset, possible cohort phenomena, comorbidity, and sociodemographic correlates are discussed.

Chronology of comorbid and principal syndromes in first-episode psychosis

Psychiatric comorbidity is common in psychotic disorders, but the chronology of comorbid and principal diagnoses has not been closely examined. Understanding chronology may be important for identifying risk factors, or alternatively, prodromal syndromes, for some patients with psychosis. To address this issue, we examined the rates of antecedent comorbid syndromes in patients with first-episode psychoses. Patients aged > or = 12 years presenting with psychosis were recruited from inpatient and outpatient treatment sites. Patients were excluded if they had been previously hospitalized or if symptoms resulted entirely from substance abuse or medical illness. All diagnoses were made using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R-Patient Version (SCID-P). Comorbidity was defined as antecedent if the age of onset of the comorbidity predated the age of the onset of the psychotic disorder by more than 1 year. Seventy-one patients were recruited during a 1-year period and included 39 with bipolar disorder, 18 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and 14 with psychotic depression. Comorbidity was present in 69% of patients. This comorbidity was antecedent in over 80% of the patients with concurrent syndromes. Patients with psychotic depression had the highest rates of comorbidity, in particular alcohol abuse and antecedent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Comorbidity is common in first-episode psychosis and is often antecedent to the psychotic disorder. These antecedent comorbidities may represent risk factors or prodromal syndromes for the psychotic disorder.