QEEG - spectral power density of brain regions in predicting risk, resistance and resilience for bipolar disorder: A comparison of first degree relatives and unrelated healthy subjects

The Characteristics of Power Spectral Density in Bipolar Disorder at the Resting State

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common psychiatric disorder, but its pathophysiology is not fully elucidated. The current study focused on its electrophysiological characteristics, especially power spectral density (PSD). Resting state with eyes opened magnetoencephalography data were collected from 21 patients with BD and 22 healthy controls. The whole brain's PSD was calculated from source reconstructed waveforms at each frequency band (delta: 1-3 Hz, theta: 4-7 Hz, alpha: 8-12 Hz, low beta: 13-19 Hz, high beta: 20-29 Hz, and gamma: 30-80 Hz). We compared PSD values on the marked vertices at each frequency band between healthy and patient groups using a Mann-Whitney rank test to examine the relationship between significantly different PSD and clinical measures. The PSD in patients with BD was significantly decreased in lower frequency bands, mainly in the default mode network (DMN) areas (bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, bilateral precuneus, left inferior parietal lobe, and right temporal cortex in the alpha band) and salience network areas (SAL; left anterior insula [AI] at the delta band, anterior cingulate cortex at the theta band, and right AI at the alpha band). No significant differences in PSD were observed at low beta and high beta. PSD was not correlated with age or other clinical scales. Altered PSDs of the DMN and SAL were observed in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. These alterations contribute to the vulnerability of BD through the disturbance of self-referential mental activity and switching between the default mode and frontoparietal networks.

Anxious Temperament Predicts Poor Acceptance of Self and Life in Bipolar Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the social distancing resulting thereof are having a great impact on psychological well-being. Studies investigating resilience found that it impacts mental health during crises. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of pre-crisis temperament on resilience in individuals with bipolar disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in Austria between April and June 2020, including 36 individuals with bipolar disorder and 39 healthy controls. Resilience was assessed with the 13-item resilience scale, and temperament was measured with the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). The bipolar disorder group showed lower resilience than the control group, and scored higher on the TEMPS-A for depressive, cyclothymic, and anxious temperaments. Resilience could be predicted by anxious temperament in individuals with bipolar disorder, and correlated negatively with depressive symptoms in both groups. The results suggest that anxious temperament influences the resilience of individuals with bipolar disorder, likely more than temporary hardships, such as the first months of the COVID-19 crisis. It is therefore important to improve the resilience of individuals with bipolar disorder not only by short-term interventions, but by strengthening resilience and reducing anxious temperament in the long term.