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Forlenza OV, Hajek T, Almeida OP, Beunders AJ, Blumberg HP, Briggs FB, De-Paula VJR, Dols A, Eyler LT, Forester BP, Gildengers A, Jimenez E, Korten NC, Lafer B, McWhinney SR, Mulsant B, Rej S, Sarna K, Schouws S, Sutherland A, Tsai S, Vieta E, Yala J, Sajatovic M. Demographic and clinical characteristics of lithium-treated older adults with bipolar disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2022; 146:442-455. [PMID: 35837985 PMCID: PMC9588573 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is limited information on the characteristics of older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) treated with lithium, along with safety concerns about its use by older adults. The aim of the present study is to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of OABD receiving lithium therapy, using data from the Global Ageing & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD). EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Cross-sectional analysis of the GAGE-BD dataset to determine differences and similarities between lithium users and non-users. We analysed data from 986 participants aged 50 years or older (mean age 63.5 years; 57.5% females) from 12 study sites. Two subgroups ('Lithium'; 'Non-lithium') were defined according to the current prescription of lithium. We compared several outcomes between these groups, controlling for age, gender, and study site. RESULTS OABD treated with lithium had lower scores on depression rating scales and were less likely to be categorised as with moderate or severe depression. There was a lower proportion of lithium users than non-users among those with evidence of rapid cycling and non-bipolar psychiatric diagnoses. Assessment of global cognitive state and functionality indicated better performance among lithium users. The current use of antipsychotics was less frequent among lithium users, who also reported fewer cardiovascular comorbidities than non-users. CONCLUSION We found several potentially relevant differences in the clinical profile of OABD treated with lithium compared with those treated with other mood stabilisers. However, the interpretation of the present results must take into account the methodological limitations inherent to the cross-sectional approach and data harmonisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orestes V. Forlenza
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clínicas Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo HCFMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tomas Hajek
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | | | - Alexandra J.M. Beunders
- GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam UMC, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands
| | | | - Farren B.S. Briggs
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, USA
| | - Vanessa J. R. De-Paula
- Vanessa J. R. De-Paula, Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Institute of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo HCFMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Annemiek Dols
- GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam UMC, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa T. Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA and Desert-Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, USA
| | - Brent P. Forester
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont; Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Ariel Gildengers
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Esther Jimenez
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicole C.M. Korten
- GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam UMC, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Beny Lafer
- Department & Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clínicas Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo HCFMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Benoit Mulsant
- Benoit Mulsant, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Center for Addiction & Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Soham Rej
- Soham Rej, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kaylee Sarna
- Kaylee Sarna, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, USA
| | - Sigfried Schouws
- GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam UMC, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Ashley Sutherland
- Ashley Sutherland, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Shangying Tsai
- Shangying Tsai, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joy Yala
- Kaylee Sarna, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, USA
| | - Martha Sajatovic
- Kaylee Sarna, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, USA
- Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD): please see Supplemental Material for members of the GAGE-BD initiative
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Sampogna G, Janiri D, Albert U, Caraci F, Martinotti G, Serafini G, Tortorella A, Zuddas A, Sani G, Fiorillo A. Why lithium should be used in patients with bipolar disorder? A scoping review and an expert opinion paper. Expert Rev Neurother 2022; 22:923-934. [PMID: 36562412 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2022.2161895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lithium treatment is considered the gold standard for the long-term management of bipolar disorder and recurrent unipolar depression. It is also extremely effective in other psychiatric conditions characterized by impulsivity and aggression, and for the prevention of suicidal behaviours. AREAS COVERED This paper provides a scoping review and an expert commentary regarding the use of lithium in adult patients. Available information about efficacy, tolerability, dosing, and switching is analyzed, and the strategies that may be most useful in real-world clinical settings are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION Lithium is effective on different domains of bipolar disorder, including the long-term prevention of recurrences of affective episodes, management of acute mania as well as in the prophylaxis of all affective episodes. Lithium has been defined a 'forgotten drug,' since its use in routine clinical practice has been declined over the last 20 or 30 years. Reasons for this trend include lack of adequate training on the management of lithium side effects. Considering its efficacy, use of lithium in ordinary clinical practice should be promoted. Several strategies, such as using slow-release formulations, can be easily implemented in order to minimize lithium side effects and improve its tolerability profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Delfina Janiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Albert
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy. Azienda Sanitaria Integrata Giuliano-Isontina - ASUGI, UCO Clinica Psichiatrica, Trieste, Italy
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Unit of Neuropharmacology and Translational Neurosciences, Oasi Research Institute - IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy; Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Zuddas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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