Lifetime prevalence, sociodemographic correlates, and diagnostic overlaps of bipolar spectrum disorder in the general population of South Korea

Does the Response to a Stressful Condition in Older Adults with Life Rhythm Dysregulations Provide Evidence of the Existence of the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome"?

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 lockdown periods have given rise to the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome" (DYMERS). This syndrome is characterized by a poor regulation of biological, social, and behavioral rhythms, including sleep, nutrition, and social contacts. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine whether older adults with pre-existing DYMERS had a more negative perception of their health-related quality of life (H-QoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, regardless of the presence of concurrent mood disorders.

METHOD

The entire study population (N = 93; age > 65 year) was categorized based on whether they exhibited dysregulated rhythms at the outset of the study. A comparison was made between DYMERS-positive individuals and DYMERS-negative individuals, and we assessed their H-QoL at the conclusion of the study. We also compared the H-QoL of individuals in the cohort who did not have a positive depression score to understand the impact of the rhythm dysregulation alone.

RESULTS

The frequency of individuals with a critical health-related quality of life score (SF12 < 25) was higher in the cohort with pre-existing DYMERS during lockdown (33.33% vs. 6.17%). This difference remained significant even when only individuals without depressive symptomatology were considered (27.27% vs. 2.60%).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that DYMERS can exert a substantial influence on health-related quality of life (H-QoL), even when mood disturbances are not present. Additional research is required to investigate the relationship between DYMERS and other psychiatric conditions as well as its nature as a standalone disorder.

Prevalence and Comorbidities of Adult Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder in a Community Sample from Korea

Objective

: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is prevalent in adults, and psychiatric comorbidities are common in adults with ADHD. We aimed to examine the prevalence of adult ADHD with several common psychiatric conditions in a community sample in Korea and the association between adult ADHD and risk of psychiatric comorbidities.

Methods

: This study used a cross-sectional survey design. We provided supplementary and optional self-report questionnaires, including the Korean version of the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) short screening scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for screening for depression, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test alcohol consumption questions, and the Korean version of the Mood Disorders Questionnaire, to Korean adults who visited one of six centers of a large private healthcare company for the National General Health Examination.

Results

: A total of 17,799 subjects included in this study, and 430 (2.4%) were positive on the ASRS screen. ADHD was significantly associated with the 19-30-year-old age group (odds ratio [OR] = 3.938), lower income (OR = 1.298), depression (OR = 11.563), and bipolar disorder (OR = 3.162).

Conclusion

: Adult ADHD was highly associated with depression and bipolar disorder, suggesting that clinicians should carefully evaluate and treat such psychiatric disorders in adults with ADHD symptoms.

Does Screening for Bipolar Disorders Identify a "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome" (DYMERS)? A Heuristic Working Hypothesis

The aim of this paper is to verify if people with a positive score on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) without comorbidity of mood disorders showed a worse level of Health-related Quality of life (HRQol) compared to a control-matched sample of MDQ negatives, identifying a specific syndrome. This is a case-control study based on a database from a community survey. Cases: MDQ-positive without mood disorders; Controls: MDQ negatives matched by sex, age, and psychiatric diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) criteria. Tools: MDQ, the Advanced Neuropsychiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS) semi-structured interview for psychiatric diagnosis, and the Health Survey Short Form (SF-12) for measuring HRQol. People scoring positive on the MDQ without a diagnosis of mood disorders showed significantly lower scores on the SF-12 compared to people of the same age and of the same sex with an equal diagnosis of psychiatric disorders not related to mood disorders (35.21 ± 6.30 vs. 41.48 ± 3.39, p < 0.0001). In the debate whether a positive score on the MDQ selects an area of "malaise" due to the presence of disorders differing from Bipolar Disorders, or if a positive score on the MDQ may be considered a "subthreshold" form of bipolar disorder in people who may later develop bipolar disorder, a third hypothesis can be advanced, i.e., that a positive score on the MDQ identifies a specific "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome" (DYMERS), characterized by a considerable amount of suffering and not attributable to other disorders, and which might represent a trigger for the previously mentioned disorders with which a positive score on the MDQ is associated, probably including, in severe conditions, bipolar disorder.

Effects of job stress on symptoms of bipolar spectrum disorder in an electronic parts manufacturing company

Background

Mental illness is known to be caused by genetic, biological, and environmental risk factors. Although previous studies have established the link between mental illness and job stress, most of them are limited to major depression disorder. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between job stress and bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD).

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study based on a survey conducted in April 2017 at an electronic parts manufacturing company in Busan. In a total of 441 workers, the degree of BSD was identified using the Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and the degree of job stress was identified using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale Short Form. This study also identified general characteristics of workers and job-related factors. The χ² test and Fisher's exact test was conducted to determine the differences among the variables, based on BSD. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the influence of independent variables on BSD.

Results

Cross-analysis showed significant differences between the BSD high-risk and low-risk groups regarding age, sex, occupation, smoking, problem drinking, job stress total score, occupational climate, and major depression disorder symptom. In addition, the significant differences between the BSD high-risk and low-risk groups about job stress were observed in terms of job demand, job insecurity, and occupational climate. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the high-risk group in the job stress group had a higher effect on BSD than the low-risk group (odds ratio [OR]: 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10–4.88). Among the categories of job stress, high-risk groups in 3 areas—job demand (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.27–5.17), job insecurity (OR: 4.42, 95% CI: 1.19–16.42), and occupational climate (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.29–5.05)—were more likely to have an impact on BSD than the low-risk groups.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the high-risk groups of job stress total score, job demand, job insecurity, and occupational climate had a more significant effect on BSD than the low-risk groups. As workers with BSD may have difficulties in their work and personal lives, there is a need to manage job stress to prevention of BSD.

Mental Health of the Participants of the Third Age University Program: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Population aging is a progressive demographic phenomenon observed in all countries worldwide. The progressive global process of population aging poses many threats, especially in the context of the mental health of the elderly. Third Age Universities are an essential preventive measure shown to improve the quality of life and psychological wellbeing of the elderly.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyze the mental status of older persons attending Third Age Universities in Poland, with particular emphasis on sociodemographic sources of variance in psychological indices.

METHODS

The study included a group of the Third Age University program participants from Poland. A total of 247 persons were enrolled, among them 215 women and 32 men. The study was carried out as a diagnostic survey, using the following validated psychometric scales: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and SMAST-G-Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test-Geriatric Version.

RESULTS

The vast majority of the respondents did not screen positively for possible bipolar disorder. However, more than 90% of the participants presented with the symptoms of mild depression, and more than one-third had manifestations of non-psychotic mental morbidity. Nearly half of the respondents had complaints associated with insomnia, and in more than one-fourth, SMAST-G score raised suspicion of problem alcohol drinking. Retired participants were shown to present with significantly higher levels of anger control than the occupationally active respondents. Respondents with poor economic status had significantly higher levels of symptoms for non-psychotic mental disorders. Men significantly more often than women showed symptoms raising suspicion of alcohol-related problems.

DISCUSSION

In conclusion, the study group was characterized primarily by the mild depressive and anxiety symptoms. The mental health of the Polish participants of the Third Age University program was significantly modulated by their socio-occupational and marital status, and financial condition. The study showed that persons with likely problem alcohol drinking differed from other respondents in terms of the occurrence of possible bipolar disorder, depression, and non-psychotic symptoms of mental disorders, state and trait anxiety levels and anger control. There is a need for further research in the field of mental health status in the Third Age Universities seniors to determine the prevalence of these phenomena on a national scale.

[Regional differences in the incidence of affective disorders]

AIM

To analyze the dynamics of the primary indicator of morbidity of affective psychotic and non-psychotic disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The article uses the data of State statistical observations for the period from 2005 to 2015 years. Regional (eight federal districts) primary indicators of diagnosis of mental disorders were subjected to epidemiological analysis in general, schizophrenia and mood disorders were analyzed in more detail.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The rate of reduction in the incidence of primary psychiatric disorders in this period varied as in Russia in whole as well as in federal districts. It was 22.5% for all mental disorders, 36.0%, for schizophrenia, 50.3% for psychotic forms of mood disorders and 29.6% for non-psychotic disorders, which demonstrated the relatively greater stability of the latter indicator. An analysis of world literature of the last decade shows the convergence of views of foreign and russian researchers on the need for careful clinical assessment of mood disorders in order to form a more differentiated approach to their prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation.