Zhu Q, Wang J, Shen C, Fan H, Zhang B, Ma G, Lu Y, Wang W. Inhibitory brainstem reflexes under external emotional-stimuli in bipolar I and II disorders.
BMC Psychiatry 2017;
17:224. [PMID:
28629452 PMCID:
PMC5477268 DOI:
10.1186/s12888-017-1390-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder types I (BD I) and II (BD II) might present different dysfunctions of the cortex and brainstem, as reflected by the second exteroceptive suppression period of temporalis muscle activity (ES2) under different stimuli of external emotions.
METHODS
This study included 30 BD I and 20 BD II patients, and 40 healthy volunteers. All participants were invited to answer the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Hypomania Checklist-32, and the Plutchik-van Praag Depression inventory, as well as to undergo the ES2 test under external emotional-stimuli (emotional pictures plus sounds) of Disgust, Erotica, Fear, Happiness, and Sadness.
RESULTS
The scale scores were elevated in both patient groups, but were not correlated with ES2 parameters. Compared to healthy controls, BD I showed prolonged ES2 latency under Erotica, and their perceived happiness and sadness intensities were negatively correlated with the respective ES2 durations, while BD II showed prolonged ES2 latencies under Disgust and Happiness, and shortened ES2 durations under Disgust, Happiness and Sadness. Moreover, ES2 duration under Sadness was significantly shorter in BD II than that in BD I.
CONCLUSIONS
The cortico-brainstem inhibitory dysfunctions in BD I and BD II was different, and this difference was independent of the patient's ongoing emotions. Our study thus provides some hints to distinguish the two types of bipolar disorders.
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