Inflammatory cytokines as an underlying mechanism of the comorbidity between bipolar disorder and migraine

The association of serum vitamin D concentrations in paediatric migraine

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is a neurologic condition characterized by hypersensitivity to auditory, olfactory, visual, and cutaneous stimuli; vomiting and nausea; and severe headache. It is the most frequent headache syndrome in children and can be categorized in chronic and/or episodic. Multiple dietary supplements have been inaugurated for the management of migraine, the most prevalent of which is vitamin D.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has been a global public health problem, with 30-80% of the worldwide population having vitamin D deficiency. The significant role of vitamin D in neurological disorders is underlined by its key role in the brain function of the central nervous system (CNS). Current approaches in paediatric neurology include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) for the treatment of paediatric migraine, among others. Vitamin D is one of the dietary factors that has been linked to migraine, however, this association has mostly been examined in the adult population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between serum vitamin D and paediatric migraine by conducting a review of existing literature. The main question is described with the PICO format (population, intervention, control, and outcomes), while the assessment of the present research is under the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION

A systematic review of the literature reveals a remarkable association between vitamin D and migraine presentation in the paediatric population, affecting the frequency and duration of the episodes. That being the case, vitamin D supplementation could potentially improve the quality of life of paediatric patients suffering from migraine headaches.

What is the link between migraine and psychiatric disorders? From epidemiology to therapeutics

The association between migraine and psychiatric disorders is well documented through numerous population-based studies. The results of these studies are coherent and show an increased risk of suffering from depression, bipolar disorders, numerous anxiety disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder. This raises the question of stress as a precipitating factor for migraine illness. Psychiatric comorbidity is even more frequent in chronic migraine than in episodic migraine patients. Many prospective studies have shown that psychiatric comorbidity could be considered as a risk factor for migraine chronicization. Psychiatric comorbidity is also responsible for an increase of the frequency of anti-migraine drug intake, a worsening of quality of life and a worsening of functional impairment. It is also responsible for an increase in the direct and indirect costs of migraine. The reason why psychiatric comorbidity is so high in migraineurs is not unambiguous. Multiple causal relationships and common etiological factors are linked. Recently, genome-wide association studies gave leads to a genetic common heritability between major depressive disorder and migraine. For clinicians, an important topic remains how to treat migraineurs with psychiatric comorbidity. These patients suffer frequently from severe migraine or refractory migraine. Antidepressant and anti-convulsive drugs can be useful, as well as psychological therapies. But moreover, it is of utmost importance to propose an integrated multidisciplinary approach to these difficult patients.

The omega-3 and Nano-curcumin effects on vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) in episodic migraine patients: a randomized clinical trial

Objective

The purpose of this clinical trial was to examine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids (W-3 FAs), nanocurcumin and their combination on serum levels and gene expression of VCAM in patients with episodic migraine.

Results

In this study, 80 patients were randomly divided in to 4 groups to receive for 2 months. Both serum levels and gene expression of VCAM showed remarkable decreases after single W-3 and after combined W-3 and nanocurcumin interventions. However, a borderline significant change and no remarkable change were observed after single nanocurcumin supplementation and in control group, respectively. While a significant difference between study groups in VCAM concentrations existed, there was no meaningful difference in VCAM gene expression among groups. It appears that the W-3 and combined W-3 and nanocurcumin can relieve VCAM serum level and its gene expression in patients with episodic migraine. Moreover, the combination of W-3 with nanocurcumin might cause more significant declines in VCAM level in the serum of migraine patients than when W-3 is administered alone.

Trial Registration: This study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with ID number: NCT02532023.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05700-x.

Pathophysiological Bases of Comorbidity in Migraine

Despite that it is commonly accepted that migraine is a disorder of the nervous system with a prominent genetic basis, it is comorbid with a plethora of medical conditions. Several studies have found bidirectional comorbidity between migraine and different disorders including neurological, psychiatric, cardio- and cerebrovascular, gastrointestinal, metaboloendocrine, and immunological conditions. Each of these has its own genetic load and shares some common characteristics with migraine. The bidirectional mechanisms that are likely to underlie this extensive comorbidity between migraine and other diseases are manifold. Comorbid pathologies can induce and promote thalamocortical network dysexcitability, multi-organ transient or persistent pro-inflammatory state, and disproportionate energetic needs in a variable combination, which in turn may be causative mechanisms of the activation of an ample defensive system with includes the trigeminovascular system in conjunction with the neuroendocrine hypothalamic system. This strategy is designed to maintain brain homeostasis by regulating homeostatic needs, such as normal subcortico-cortical excitability, energy balance, osmoregulation, and emotional response. In this light, the treatment of migraine should always involves a multidisciplinary approach, aimed at identifying and, if necessary, eliminating possible risk and comorbidity factors.

Clinical use of omega-3 fatty acids in migraine: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) can produce several beneficial effects and are commonly used for the treatment of migraine symptoms. Although current therapeutic measures for migraine included pharmacological therapies, dietary supplements, and herbal ingredients, dietary patterns, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, and psychotherapy, omega-3 FAs therapeutic role seems to be obtained through the inhibition or reduction of the release of inflammatory cytokines. The present review aims to provide updated information about the effects of omega-3 FAs in migraine treatment, investigating their clinical effects alone or in combination with other substances.

METHODS

Bibliographic research was conducted by examining scientific literature from January 2000 until January 31, 2020. Ten clinical studies were included in the review. Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials was performed by using the JADAD scale.

RESULTS

Clinical studies methodology is not always of good quality and results show moderate evidence concerning the therapeutic role of omega-3 FAs in migraine.

CONCLUSION

Further clinical trials are necessary to implement the knowledge concerning the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of migraine.

Vitamin D in migraine headache: a comprehensive review on literature

INTRODUCTION

As a primary headache, migraine has been established as the first leading disability cause worldwide in the subjects who aged less than 50 years. A variety of dietary supplements have been introduced for migraine complementary treatment. As an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, vitamin D is one of these agents which has been of interest in recent years. Although higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has been highlighted among migraineurs compared to controls, there is not any consensus in prescribing vitamin D in clinical practice. Therefore, in the current review, in addition to observational and case-control studies, we also included clinical trials concerning the effects of vitamin D supplementation on migraine/headache.

METHODS

Based on a PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect database search, this review study includes published articles up to June 2019 concerning the association between migraine/headache and vitamin D status or supplementation.

RESULTS

The percentage of subjects with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among migraineurs and headache patients has been reported to vary between 45 and 100%. In a number of studies, vitamin D level was negatively correlated with frequency of headaches. The present findings show that supplementation with this vitamin in a dose of 1000-4000 IU/d could reduce the frequency of attacks in migraineurs.

CONCLUSION

It seems a high proportion of migraine patients might suffer from vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Further, the current evidence shows that in addition to routine drug therapy, vitamin D administration might reduce the frequency of attacks in migraineurs. However, these results have yet to be confirmed.

Understanding the nature of psychiatric comorbidity in migraine: a systematic review focused on interactions and treatment implications

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling neurological disorder which is commonly linked with a broad range of psychiatric comorbidities, especially among subjects with migraine with aura or chronic migraine. Defining the exact nature of the association between migraine and psychiatric disorders and bringing out the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the comorbidity with psychiatric conditions are relevant issues in the clinical practice.

METHODS

A systematic review of the most relevant studies about migraine and psychiatric comorbidity was performed using "PubMed", "Scopus", and "ScienceDirect" electronic databases from 1 January 1998 to 15 July 2018. Overall, 178 studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in the current review.

RESULTS

According to the most relevant findings of our overview, the associations with psychiatric comorbidities are complex, with a bidirectional association of major depression and panic disorder with migraine. Importantly, optimizing the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of either migraine or its psychiatric comorbidities might help clinicians to attenuate the burden of both these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

The available data highlight the need for a comprehensive evaluation of psychiatric disorders in migraine in order to promote an integrated model of care and carefully address the burden and psychosocial impairment related to psychiatric comorbidities in migraine.

Serum Vitamin D Status in a Group of Migraine Patients Compared With Healthy Controls: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

The association between serum vitamin D and migraine is investigated in this research.s BACKGROUND: Although the pathogenesis of migraine headache is not fully understood, the possible role of inflammation and disturbed immune system has been proposed; thus, higher levels of vitamin D might reduce the risk of migraine. However, the results of related studies have been inconclusive.

METHODS

Seventy healthy individuals and 70 age- and sex-matched migraineurs (34 chronic and 36 episodic migraineurs), diagnosed according to the International Headache Society criteria (ICHD-IIIβ), were recruited. After obtaining baseline data and assessing migraine disability, a 30-day headache diary was given to the participants. Blood samples were obtained and 25(OH)D serum concentrations were determined using ELISA techniques. Serum 25(OH)D under 20, 20-29, and 30-100 ng/mL were considered deficient, insufficient, and sufficient, respectively. The applied statistical tests for between-group comparisons include independent-sample t-test, chi-square, and analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was also performed to identify the possible risk factors of migraine headache.

RESULTS

Migraine patients had significantly lower mean (SD) of serum VitD (30 (16) ng/mL) than healthy subjects (43 (19) ng/mL) (P < .001). The number (%) of subjects with VitD deficiency and insufficiency was significantly higher among the migraineurs (36 (53.7%)) than the controls (18 (26.1%)) (P < .0001). A significant negative association between migraine headache and serum VitD was detected in the fully adjusted multiple regression models when comparing the third and the highest serum 25(OH)D quartiles with the lowest (OR = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.05-0.77; OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.04-0.64, respectively, P for trend = .009). For each 5 ng/mL increase in serum 25(OH)D, there was a 22% odds decrease in the odds of migraine (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.68-0.90; P = .001).

CONCLUSION

We have found that a higher level of serum VitD (between 50 to less than 100 ng/mL) among a sample of the Iranian population is associated with 80-83% lower odds of migraine headache than those with serum 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL. However, there is a need for well-designed clinical trials to investigate beneficial effects of increased serum 25(OH)D on lower risk of migraine.

Neuroimmune Impacts of Early-Life Stress on Development and Psychopathology

Maltreatment and trauma in childhood, termed early-life stress (ELS), has long-term effects on the immune system. ELS impacts immune signaling at the time of exposure but also disrupts the developmental trajectory of certain immunological processes, both in the periphery and in the brain. One consequence of these early alterations is a heightened immune response to stressors later in life. However, chronic and sustained inflammatory response can also lead to excitotoxicity and prevent typical brain development. In this chapter, we discuss current progress toward understanding the contribution of neuroimmune signaling to ELS-attributable dysfunction or maladaptation with a focus on postnatal experiences. To do so we first present an operational definition of ELS. Then, we offer a brief overview of the immune system and neuroimmune development, followed by a section discussing the interaction between immunity, childhood trauma, and mental disorders in humans. We present evidence from animal models about immune alterations after ELS and discuss the ways in which ELS-induced immune changes ultimately affect brain and behavior, as well as the importance of individual differences and future directions in this field. Taken together, we submit that when encountered with ELS, some core brain circuits could develop differently via various mechanisms involving dysfunctional immune reprograming. However, given the remarkable plasticity of both the brain and the immune system, many of the deleterious effects of ELS may be mitigated with interventions that account for sex and target neuroimmune interactions over the lifespan.

BDNF and BMI effects on brain structures of bipolar offspring: results from the global mood and brain science initiative

OBJECTIVE

To compare brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between offspring of individuals with bipolar disorders (BD) and healthy controls (HCs) and investigate the effects of BDNF levels and body mass index (BMI) on brain structures.

METHOD

Sixty-seven bipolar offspring and 45 HCs were included (ages 8-28). Structural images were acquired using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Serum BDNF levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance were conducted.

RESULTS

Significantly higher BDNF levels were observed among bipolar offspring, relative to HCs (P > 0.025). Offspring status moderated the association between BDNF and BMI (F₁ =4.636, P = 0.034). After adjustment for relevant covariates, there was a trend for a significant interaction of group and BDNF on neuroimaging parameters (Wilks'λ F_56,94 =1.463, P = 0.052), with significant effects on cerebellar white matter and superior and middle frontal regions. Brain volume and BDNF were positively correlated among HCs and negatively correlated among bipolar offspring. Interactions between BDNF and BMI on brain volumes were non-significant among HCs (Wilks'λ F_28,2 =2.229, P = 0.357), but significant among bipolar offspring (Wilks'λ F_28,12 =2.899, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Offspring status and BMI moderate the association between BDNF levels and brain structures among bipolar offspring, underscoring BDNF regulation and overweight/obesity as key moderators of BD pathogenesis.

Computational analysis of multimorbidity between asthma, eczema and rhinitis

Background

The mechanisms explaining the co-existence of asthma, eczema and rhinitis (allergic multimorbidity) are largely unknown. We investigated the mechanisms underlying multimorbidity between three main allergic diseases at a molecular level by identifying the proteins and cellular processes that are common to them.

Methods

An in silico study based on computational analysis of the topology of the protein interaction network was performed in order to characterize the molecular mechanisms of multimorbidity of asthma, eczema and rhinitis. As a first step, proteins associated to either disease were identified using data mining approaches, and their overlap was calculated. Secondly, a functional interaction network was built, allowing to identify cellular pathways involved in allergic multimorbidity. Finally, a network-based algorithm generated a ranked list of newly predicted multimorbidity-associated proteins.

Results

Asthma, eczema and rhinitis shared a larger number of associated proteins than expected by chance, and their associated proteins exhibited a significant degree of interconnectedness in the interaction network. There were 15 pathways involved in the multimorbidity of asthma, eczema and rhinitis, including IL4 signaling and GATA3-related pathways. A number of proteins potentially associated to these multimorbidity processes were also obtained.

Conclusions

These results strongly support the existence of an allergic multimorbidity cluster between asthma, eczema and rhinitis, and suggest that type 2 signaling pathways represent a relevant multimorbidity mechanism of allergic diseases. Furthermore, we identified new candidates contributing to multimorbidity that may assist in identifying new targets for multimorbid allergic diseases.

A traditional Chinese formula composed of Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Da Chuanxiong Formula) suppresses inflammatory response in LPS -induced RAW 264.7 cells through inhibition of NF-κB pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Da Chuanxiong Formula (DCXF) which origins from Jin Dynasty is a famous classical 2-herb Chinese medicinal prescription. It is composed of dried rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, CR) and Gastrodia elata (Gastrodiae Rhizoma, GR) at the ratio of 4:1 (w/w). It has been used to treat headache which is caused by wind pathogen and blood stasis for thousands of years in China.

AIM OF STUDY

The present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was evaluated using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the effect of DCXF on NF-κB activation was measured by western blot assay.

RESULTS

Treatment with DCXF significantly suppressed the productions of NO and PGE₂ through inhibitions of iNOS and COX-2 expressions in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DCXF significantly decreased IκBα phosphorylation, inhibited p65 expression and reduced p-p65 level. These results suggested the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was associated with the reduction of inflammatory mediators through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that DCXF inhibited inflammation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells through inactivation of NF-κB pathway.

Migraine headache and bipolar disorder comorbidity: A systematic review of the literature and clinical implications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Psychiatric disorders, e.g., depression, are often comorbid with, and can complicate the treatment of, patients with migraine headache. Although empirical work has increasingly focused on the association between migraine and bipolar disorder, this topic has received little attention in the pain literature. Bipolar disorder is a chronic and recurrent mood disorder characterized by cyclic occurrence of elevated (i.e., manic or hypomanic) and depressed mood states. Bipolar I disorder is diagnosed when patients present with at least one abnormally and persistently elevated manic episode; bipolar II disorder is characterized by the presence of hypomanic episodes. Bipolar disorder warrants attention as depressive phases of the disorder can prevail and are often misconstrued by the unwary clinician as unipolar depression. However, treatment for bipolar disorder is distinct from that of unipolar depression and use of antidepressants, which are often invoked in migraine prophylaxis as well as the treatment of depression, may precipitate significant mood changes among bipolar disorder patients. A systematic review of the literature addressing the co-occurrence of bipolar disorder and migraine was conducted. The treatment of dually affected patients is also discussed.

METHODS

In order to review the literature to date on migraine and bipolar disorder co-occurrence, a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL for clinic-based and epidemiological studies was conducted using terms related to migraine and bipolar disorder. Studies were selected for review if they included subjects meeting validated diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder as well as migraine headache and if a quantitative description of prevalence rates of comorbid bipolar disorder and migraine were reported. Weighted means of the prevalence rates were calculated to compare with general epidemiological prevalence trends for migraine and bipolar disorder, respectively.

RESULTS

Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Although findings were constrained by methodological limitations and several low quality studies, clinic- and epidemiological cross-sectional investigations demonstrated a high rate of comorbidity between bipolar disorder and migraine. The weighted mean prevalence rate for migraine headache among bipolar disorder patients was 30.7%; for bipolar disorder among migraineurs, the weighted mean prevalence rates were 9% and 5.9% in clinic-based and epidemiological studies, respectively. The association between bipolar disorder and migraine was most notable among women and patients with the bipolar II disorder subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

High rates of comorbidity exist between migraine and bipolar disorder, exceeding estimated prevalence rates for those conditions in the general population. Comorbidity may portend a more serious clinical course for dually afflicted individuals.

IMPLICATIONS

Clinicians need to structure treatment approaches to address concurrent migraine and bipolar disorder in dually afflicted individuals. Although further evidence-based investigation is warranted to inform optimal treatment approaches for both conditions concurrently, anticonvulsants (e.g., valproate, lamotrigine and topiramate); atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine or quetiapine); and calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil) may be considered.

Rapid cycling as a feature of bipolar disorder and comorbid migraine

BACKGROUND

Previous research has suggested the clinical profile of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) differs according to the presence or absence of comorbid migraine. We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics that differentiate individuals with BD with and without comorbid migraine in a large, representative, clinically well-characterised UK sample.

METHODS

The lifetime clinical characteristics of 1488 individuals with BD (BPI n=1120, BPII n=368) with and without comorbid migraine were compared (n=375 vs. n=1113 respectively).

RESULTS

Individuals with BD and comorbid migraine had a distinctive set of lifetime clinical characteristics. A multivariate model showed that consistent with previous studies those with comorbid migraine were significantly more likely to be female (OR=2.099, p=0.005) and have comorbid panic attacks (OR=1.842, p=0.004). A novel finding was that even after controlling for other differences, the individuals with BD and comorbid migraine were more likely to have a rapid cycling illness course (OR=1.888, p=0.002).

LIMITATIONS

Presence of migraine was assessed using self report measures. Cross-sectional study design limits investigations of bidirectional associations between migraine and bipolar disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid migraine in BD may represent a more homogenous subtype of BD with an unstable rapid cycling course. Identifying individuals with BD and comorbid migraine may be of use in a clinical setting and this subgroup could be the focus of future aetiological studies.

Depression, anxiety and stress among pregnant migraineurs in a pacific-northwest cohort

BACKGROUND

The co-occurrence of migraine and unipolar psychiatric disorders has been well documented in non-pregnant populations, however little is known in pregnant populations.

METHODS

A cohort of 1321 women was interviewed during the first trimester of pregnancy. At the time of interview lifetime migraine status was ascertained using International Classification of Headache Disorders diagnostic criteria (ICHD-II). Information regarding unipolar depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy was collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Module-9 (PHQ-9), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21-item Short Form (DASS-21). Multivariable logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of migraine and mood disorders during pregnancy.

RESULTS

Approximately 28.2% (N=372) were classified as having a lifetime history of migraine; among migraineurs 122 were classified as migraineurs with aura and 250 as migraineurs without aura. Compared with non-migraineurs, migraineurs were associated with 1.60-fold increased odds of depression as measured by a PHQ-9 score ≥10 (AOR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.12-2.31). Overall, migraine with aura was more strongly associated with depression than was migraine without aura. Migraineurs, as compared with non-migraineurs, also had higher odds of mood disorders as measured by the DASS-21.

CONCLUSIONS

The comorbidity of mood and migraine disorders in pregnant populations supports the need for integrated mental and physical clinical evaluation, increased vigilance, and treatment of patients with such disorders.

Advancing biomarker research: utilizing 'Big Data' approaches for the characterization and prevention of bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To provide a strategic framework for the prevention of bipolar disorder (BD) that incorporates a 'Big Data' approach to risk assessment for BD.

METHODS

Computerized databases (e.g., Pubmed, PsychInfo, and MedlinePlus) were used to access English-language articles published between 1966 and 2012 with the search terms bipolar disorder, prodrome, 'Big Data', and biomarkers cross-referenced with genomics/genetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, inflammation, oxidative stress, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, cognition, neurocognition, and neuroimaging. Papers were selected from the initial search if the primary outcome(s) of interest was (were) categorized in any of the following domains: (i) 'omics' (e.g., genomics), (ii) molecular, (iii) neuroimaging, and (iv) neurocognitive.

RESULTS

The current strategic approach to identifying individuals at risk for BD, with an emphasis on phenotypic information and family history, has insufficient predictive validity and is clinically inadequate. The heterogeneous clinical presentation of BD, as well as its pathoetiological complexity, suggests that it is unlikely that a single biomarker (or an exclusive biomarker approach) will sufficiently augment currently inadequate phenotypic-centric prediction models. We propose a 'Big Data'- bioinformatics approach that integrates vast and complex phenotypic, anamnestic, behavioral, family, and personal 'omics' profiling. Bioinformatic processing approaches, utilizing cloud- and grid-enabled computing, are now capable of analyzing data on the order of tera-, peta-, and exabytes, providing hitherto unheard of opportunities to fundamentally revolutionize how psychiatric disorders are predicted, prevented, and treated. High-throughput networks dedicated to research on, and the treatment of, BD, integrating both adult and younger populations, will be essential to sufficiently enroll adequate samples of individuals across the neurodevelopmental trajectory in studies to enable the characterization and prevention of this heterogeneous disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Advances in bioinformatics using a 'Big Data' approach provide an opportunity for novel insights regarding the pathoetiology of BD. The coordinated integration of research centers, inclusive of mixed-age populations, is a promising strategic direction for advancing this line of neuropsychiatric research.

Gender differences, clinical correlates, and longitudinal outcome of bipolar disorder with comorbid migraine

OBJECTIVE

Migraine is a common comorbidity of bipolar disorder and is more prevalent in women than men. We hypothesized comorbid migraine would be associated with features of illness and psychosocial risk factors that would differ by gender and impact outcome.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess association between self-reported, physician-diagnosed migraine, clinical variables of interest, and mood outcome in subjects with DSM-IV bipolar disorder (N = 412) and healthy controls (N = 157) from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder, 2005-2010. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

RESULTS

Migraine was more common in subjects with bipolar disorder (31%) than in healthy controls (6%) and had elevated risk in bipolar disorder women compared to men (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 2.1-5.8). In men, migraine was associated with bipolar II disorder (OR = 9.9; 95% CI, 2.3-41.9) and mixed symptoms (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 1.0-11.9). In comparison to absence of migraine, presence of migraine was associated with an earlier age at onset of bipolar disorder by 2 years, more severe depression (β = .13, P = .03), and more frequent depression longitudinally (β = .13, P = .03). Migraine was correlated with childhood emotional abuse (P = .01), sexual abuse (P = 4 × 10⁻³), emotional neglect (P = .01), and high neuroticism (P = 2 × 10⁻³). Protective factors included high extraversion (P = .02) and high family adaptability at the trend level (P = .08).

CONCLUSIONS

Migraine is a common comorbidity with bipolar disorder and may impact long-term outcome of bipolar disorder, particularly depression. Clinicians should be alert for migraine comorbidity in women and in men with bipolar II disorder. Effective treatment of migraine may impact mood outcome in bipolar disorder as well as headache outcome. Joint pathophysiologic mechanisms between migraine and bipolar disorder may be important pathways for future study of treatments for both disorders.

Childhood maltreatment and inflammatory markers: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with several diseases in adult life, including diabetes, obesity and mental disorders. Inflammatory conditions have been postulated as possible mediators of this relationship. The aim was to conduct a systematic review regarding the association between CM and inflammatory markers in adulthood.

METHOD

A literature search of the PubMed, ISI, EMBASE and PsychINFO databases was conducted. The key terms used were as follows: 'Child Maltreatment', 'Childhood Trauma', 'Early Life Stress', 'Psychological Stress', 'Emotional Stress', 'Child Abuse' and 'Child Neglect'. They were cross-referenced separately with the terms: 'C-reactive Protein (CRP)', 'Tumor Necrosis Factor', 'Cytokine', 'Interleukin', 'Inflammatory' and 'Inflammation'.

RESULTS

Twenty articles remained in the review after exclusion criteria were applied. Studies showed that a history of CM was associated with increased levels of CRP, fibrinogen and proinflammatory cytokines. Increased levels of circulating CRP in individuals with a history of CM were the most robust finding among the studies. Data about anti-inflammatory mediators are still few and inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

Childhood maltreatment is associated with a chronic inflammatory state independent of clinical comorbidities. However, studies are heterogeneous regarding CM assessment and definition. Important methodological improvements are needed to better understand the potential impact of CM on inflammatory response.

Integrated neurobiology of bipolar disorder

From a neurobiological perspective there is no such thing as bipolar disorder. Rather, it is almost certainly the case that many somewhat similar, but subtly different, pathological conditions produce a disease state that we currently diagnose as bipolarity. This heterogeneity - reflected in the lack of synergy between our current diagnostic schema and our rapidly advancing scientific understanding of the condition - limits attempts to articulate an integrated perspective on bipolar disorder. However, despite these challenges, scientific findings in recent years are beginning to offer a provisional "unified field theory" of the disease. This theory sees bipolar disorder as a suite of related neurodevelopmental conditions with interconnected functional abnormalities that often appear early in life and worsen over time. In addition to accelerated loss of volume in brain areas known to be essential for mood regulation and cognitive function, consistent findings have emerged at a cellular level, providing evidence that bipolar disorder is reliably associated with dysregulation of glial-neuronal interactions. Among these glial elements are microglia - the brain's primary immune elements, which appear to be overactive in the context of bipolarity. Multiple studies now indicate that inflammation is also increased in the periphery of the body in both the depressive and manic phases of the illness, with at least some return to normality in the euthymic state. These findings are consistent with changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which are known to drive inflammatory activation. In summary, the very fact that no single gene, pathway, or brain abnormality is likely to ever account for the condition is itself an extremely important first step in better articulating an integrated perspective on both its ontological status and pathogenesis. Whether this perspective will translate into the discovery of innumerable more homogeneous forms of bipolarity is one of the great questions facing the field and one that is likely to have profound treatment implications, given that fact that such a discovery would greatly increase our ability to individualize - and by extension, enhance - treatment.

Is anxious-depression an inflammatory state?

For several years, the literature has examined the association of depression and anxiety with inflammatory states such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, yet this association remains inconclusive. Several possible immune and endocrinological pathways have been postulated that associate depression and anxiety with inflammation and immune dysregulation. Anxiety and depression have usually been envisioned as two separate psychiatric conditions yet they share similar symptoms and are frequently encountered together among individuals. Individuals suffering from anxious-depression are more refractory to treatment and have been reported to have greater disability compared to individuals with anxiety or depression alone. With the current changes in the diagnostic manual for psychiatric disorders placing more emphasis on a dimensional approach for the diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses, the hypothesis presented is that anxious-depression should be considered as a chronic inflammatory phenomenon since it shares common physiopathological pathways and pharmacological treatments with inflammatory states. This hypothesis might help to investigate how different levels of inflammatory biomarkers could be correlated with symptoms of anxious-depression.