DSM-5.1

Lifetime prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric disease and part of its burden is related to the high rates of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity (PC), with diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications.

METHODS

Registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021282356). Meta-analyses were performed, searching for relevant papers published from 1993 to 2022 in Medline/PubMed (including E-Pub Ahead of Print), Embase, Cochrane Library (Central), PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and via hand-searching, without language restrictions. 12.698 studies were initially identified, 114 of which were ultimately chosen based on the eligibility criteria. We performed two meta-analyses (prevalence and risk ratio) of mental health conditions among subjects with BD and then conducted a comprehensive examination of moderator effects using multivariable meta-regression models for moderators identified as significant in the univariable analysis.

FINDINGS

Overall PC prevalence of at least one disorder was 38.91 % (95 % CI 35.24-42.70) and the most frequent disorders were: anxiety (40.4 % [34.97-46.06]), SUD (30.7 % [23.73-38.73]), ADHD (18.6 % [10.66-30.33]) and Disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorder (15 % [6.21-31.84). The moderators with higher association with individual prevalences were UN's Human Development Index (HDI), female gender, age, suicide attempt, and age at onset (AAO).

INTERPRETATION

It becomes evident that the prevalence of PC among individuals with BD is notably high, surpassing rates observed in the general population. This heightened prevalence persists despite significant heterogeneity across studies. Consequently, it is imperative to redirect clinical focus towards comprehensive mental health assessments, emphasizing personalized and routine screening. Additionally, there is a pressing need for the enhancement of public policies to create a supportive environment for individuals with BD, ensuring better therapeutic conditions and sustained assistance. By addressing these aspects, we can collectively strive towards fostering improved mental health outcomes for individuals with BD.

Associations between negative gender attitudes and eating behaviors in Chinese children and adolescents

Background

Negative gender cognitive attitudes (disliking one's own gender or wanting to be the opposite gender) and unhealthy eating behaviors have become common in Chinese children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between negative gender attitudes and eating behaviors among Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods

Primary and secondary school students aged 8-15 years were selected as participants using a stratified cluster random sampling method. The self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the participants' negative gender cognitive attitudes. Eating frequency questionnaire was used to investigate participants' eating behaviors. Under the leading reading of standardized training investigators, the questionnaire for children aged 8-15 years was completed by themselves in the form of centralized filling.

Results

A total of 6.5% [43/657, boys: 6.1% (21/347), girls: 7.1% (22/310)] of children disliked their own gender, 8.8% [58/657, boys: 5.5% (19/347), girls: 12.6% (39/310)] of children wanted to be of the opposite gender, and the proportion of girls with negative gender attitudes was higher than that of boys (P < 0.05). Boys who disliked their own gender or wanted to be the opposite gender had higher frequencies of unhealthy eating behaviors and lower frequencies of healthy eating behaviors than boys who liked their own gender or did not want to be the opposite gender (P < 0.05). Girls who disliked their own gender or wanted to be the opposite gender had higher frequencies of protein eating behaviors than girls who liked their own gender or did not want to be the opposite gender (P < 0.05). There was a significant interaction between disliking one's own gender and wanting to be the opposite gender in midnight snack eating among boys (P < 0.05) and in carbonated drink and high protein eating behaviors among girls (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Boys with negative gender cognitive attitudes express more unhealthy eating behaviors and fewer healthy eating behaviors; girls with negative gender cognitive attitudes exhibit more protein eating behaviors.

DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria for bipolar disorder: Implications for the prevalence of bipolar disorder and validity of the diagnosis - A narrative review from the ECNP bipolar disorders network

This narrative review summarizes and discusses the implications of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 and the upcoming International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 classification systems on the prevalence of bipolar disorder and on the validity of the DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar disorder according to the Robin and Guze criteria of diagnostic validity. Here we review and discuss current data on the prevalence of bipolar disorder diagnosed according to DSM-5 versus DSM-IV, and data on characteristics of bipolar disorder in the two diagnostic systems in relation to extended Robin and Guze criteria: 1) clinical presentation, 2) associations with para-clinical data such as brain imaging and blood-based biomarkers, 3) delimitation from other disorders, 4) associations with family history / genetics, 5) prognosis and long-term follow-up, and 6) treatment effects. The review highlights that few studies have investigated consequences for the prevalence of the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and for the validity of the diagnosis. Findings from these studies suggest a substantial decrease in the point prevalence of a diagnosis of bipolar with DSM-5 compared with DSM-IV, ranging from 30-50%, but a smaller decrease in the prevalence during lifetime, corresponding to a 6% reduction. It is concluded that it is likely that the use of DSM-5 and ICD-11 will result in diagnostic delay and delayed early intervention in bipolar disorder. Finally, we recommend areas for future research.

Identifying clinical clusters with distinct trajectories in first-episode psychosis through an unsupervised machine learning technique

The extreme variability in symptom presentation reveals that individuals diagnosed with a first-episode psychosis (FEP) may encompass different sub-populations with potentially different illness courses and, hence, different treatment needs. Previous studies have shown that sociodemographic and family environment factors are associated with more unfavorable symptom trajectories. The aim of this study was to examine the dimensional structure of symptoms and to identify individuals' trajectories at early stage of illness and potential risk factors associated with poor outcomes at follow-up in non-affective FEP. One hundred and forty-four non-affective FEP patients were assessed at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. A Principal component analysis has been conducted to identify dimensions, then an unsupervised machine learning technique (fuzzy clustering) was performed to identify clinical subgroups of patients. Six symptom factors were extracted (positive, negative, depressive, anxiety, disorganization and somatic/cognitive). Three distinct clinical clusters were determined at baseline: mild; negative and moderate; and positive and severe symptoms, and five at follow-up: minimal; mild; moderate; negative and depressive; and severe symptoms. Receiving a low-dose antipsychotic, having a more severe depressive symptomatology and a positive family history for psychiatric disorders were risk factors for poor recovery, whilst having a high cognitive reserve and better premorbid adjustment may confer a better prognosis. The current study provided a better understanding of the heterogeneous profile of FEP. Early identification of patients who could likely present poor outcomes may be an initial step for the development of targeted interventions to improve illness trajectories and preserve psychosocial functioning.

Clinical correlates of seasonality in bipolar disorder: A specifier that needs specification?

OBJECTIVE

Seasonal pattern (SP) is a bipolar disorder (BD) specifier that indicates a tendency towards affective relapses during specific moments of the year. SP affects 15%-25% of BD patients. In the past, SP was applied only to depressive relapses while, in DSM-5, SP may be applied to both depressive and (hypo)manic episodes. We examined the association between different clinical correlates of BD and SP according to its current definition in a cohort of patients with BD type I (BDI) and II (BDII).

METHODS

Patients were recruited from a specialized unit and assessed according to the season of relapse and type of episode per season. SP and non-SP patients were compared looking into sociodemographic and clinical correlates. Significant variables at univariate comparisons were included in multivariate logistic regression with SP as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

708 patients were enrolled (503 BDI, 205 BDII), and 117 (16.5%) fulfilled DSM-5 criteria for SP. The mean age was 45.3 years (SD = 14.18), and 389 were female (54.9%). The logistic regression model included a significant contribution of BDII (OR = 2.23, CI 1.4-3.55), family history of mood disorder (OR = 1.97, CI 1.29-3.01), undetermined predominant polarity (OR = 0.44, CI 0.28-0.70), and aggressive behavior (OR = 0.42, CI 0.23-0.75).

CONCLUSION

Our results outline a novel positive association of SP with undetermined predominant polarity, BDII, family history of mood disorder, and with fewer aggressiveness-related symptoms. Seasonality is associated with a biphasic pattern with similar dominance of (hypo)mania and depression and is more frequent in BDII as compared to BDI. Seasonal episodes may be easier to predict, but difficult to prevent.

Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Overactivation of the Habitual Control Brain System in Tobacco Dependence

INTRODUCTION

We studied the regulatory mechanism of the habitual brain network in tobacco dependence to provide a theoretical basis for the regulation and cessation of tobacco dependence.

METHODS

We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) of the habitual brain network in tobacco-dependent subjects and to evaluate the relationship between the FC level and tobacco selection preference behavior. In total, 29 male tobacco-dependent participants and 28 male nonsmoking participants were recruited. rs-fMRI was used to collect blood oxygen level-dependent signals of the participants in the resting and awake states. After rs-fMRI, all subjects completed cigarette/coin selection tasks (task 1 and task 2).

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the tobacco dependence group showed increased fractional amplitude values of fALFF in the left posterior cingulate cortex and right parahippocampus. FC in the tobacco-dependent group was increased in the right inferior temporal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left cingulated gyrus, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus, compared with that in the control group. Moreover, the preference selection behavior was associated with the enhancement of FC about parts of the brain regions in the habitual brain network of the tobacco-dependent participants. Thus, habitual network activity was significantly enhanced in tobacco-dependent participants in the resting state. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the cigarette selection preference of the smokers and certain brain regions related to the habitual network.

DISCUSSION

This suggests that increased activity of the habitual brain network may be essential in the development of tobacco-dependent behavior.

Failure to Thrive in the Outpatient Clinic: A New Insight

Failure to thrive (FTT) is an abnormal growth pattern determined by inadequate nutrition. It is a common problem in children, representing 5% to 10% of patients seen in an outpatient setting. Many definitions have been proposed based on anthropometric deterioration; however, they show poor concordance. No single definition is sufficiently sensitive in identifying faltering growth whilst a combination of multiple criteria seems more accurate. In light of the recent redefinition of pediatric malnutrition as a disequilibrium between requirements and intakes of energy, and macro- and micronutrients, a wider conception of FTT as an unsatisfactory nutritional status related to poor growth and health is useful. Although the most severe problems of micronutrient malnutrition are found in developing countries, people of all regions of the world can be affected by micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs), a form of undernutrition with relevant effects on growth and health. Changes in diets and lifestyle, elimination diets, food insecurity, and food intake disorders create the conditions at risk of faltering growth and MNDs. This new insight integrates the "classical" anthropometric criteria for definition and treatment, in the aim of warranting both a regular increase in size and an overall adequate development and health status.

Mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in the ICD-11: an international perspective on key changes and controversies

An update of the chapter on Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is of great interest around the world. The recent approval of the 11th Revision of the ICD (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization (WHO) raises broad questions about the status of nosology of mental disorders as a whole as well as more focused questions regarding changes to the diagnostic guidelines for specific conditions and the implications of these changes for practice and research. This Forum brings together a broad range of experts to reflect on key changes and controversies in the ICD-11 classification of mental disorders. Taken together, there is consensus that the WHO's focus on global applicability and clinical utility in developing the diagnostic guidelines for this chapter will maximize the likelihood that it will be adopted by mental health professionals and administrators. This focus is also expected to enhance the application of the guidelines in non-specialist settings and their usefulness for scaling up evidence-based interventions. The new mental disorders classification in ICD-11 and its accompanying diagnostic guidelines therefore represent an important, albeit iterative, advance for the field.

Bipolar disorders

Bipolar disorders are chronic and recurrent disorders that affect >1% of the global population. Bipolar disorders are leading causes of disability in young people as they can lead to cognitive and functional impairment and increased mortality, particularly from suicide and cardiovascular disease. Psychiatric and nonpsychiatric medical comorbidities are common in patients and might also contribute to increased mortality. Bipolar disorders are some of the most heritable psychiatric disorders, although a model with gene-environment interactions is believed to best explain the aetiology. Early and accurate diagnosis is difficult in clinical practice as the onset of bipolar disorder is commonly characterized by nonspecific symptoms, mood lability or a depressive episode, which can be similar in presentation to unipolar depression. Moreover, patients and their families do not always understand the significance of their symptoms, especially with hypomanic or manic symptoms. As specific biomarkers for bipolar disorders are not yet available, careful clinical assessment remains the cornerstone of diagnosis. The detection of hypomanic symptoms and longtudinal clinical assessment are crucial to differentiate a bipolar disorder from other conditions. Optimal early treatment of patients with evidence-based medication (typically mood stabilizers and antipsychotics) and psychosocial strategies is necessary.

The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for the Biological Treatment of Bipolar Disorders: Acute and long-term treatment of mixed states in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVES

Although clinically highly relevant, the recognition and treatment of bipolar mixed states has played only an underpart in recent guidelines. This WFSBP guideline has been developed to supply a systematic overview of all scientific evidence pertaining to the acute and long-term treatment of bipolar mixed states in adults.

METHODS

Material used for these guidelines is based on a systematic literature search using various data bases. Their scientific rigour was categorised into six levels of evidence (A-F), and different grades of recommendation to ensure practicability were assigned. We examined data pertaining to the acute treatment of manic and depressive symptoms in bipolar mixed patients, as well as data pertaining to the prevention of mixed recurrences after an index episode of any type, or recurrence of any type after a mixed index episode.

RESULTS

Manic symptoms in bipolar mixed states appeared responsive to treatment with several atypical antipsychotics, the best evidence resting with olanzapine. For depressive symptoms, addition of ziprasidone to treatment as usual may be beneficial; however, the evidence base is much more limited than for the treatment of manic symptoms. Besides olanzapine and quetiapine, valproate and lithium should also be considered for recurrence prevention.

LIMITATIONS

The concept of mixed states changed over time, and recently became much more comprehensive with the release of DSM-5. As a consequence, studies in bipolar mixed patients targeted slightly different bipolar subpopulations. In addition, trial designs in acute and maintenance treatment also advanced in recent years in response to regulatory demands.

CONCLUSIONS

Current treatment recommendations are still based on limited evidence, and there is a clear demand for confirmative studies adopting the DSM-5 specifier with mixed features concept.

Toward Precision Psychiatry in Bipolar Disorder: Staging 2.0

Personalized treatment is defined as choosing the "right treatment for the right person at the right time." Although psychiatry has not yet reached this level of precision, we are on the way thanks to recent technological developments that may aid to detect plausible molecular and genetic markers. At the moment there are some models that are contributing to precision psychiatry through the concept of staging. While staging was initially presented as a way to categorize patients according to clinical presentation, course, and illness severity, current staging models integrate multiple levels of information that can help to define each patient's characteristics, severity, and prognosis in a more precise and individualized way. Moreover, staging might serve as the foundation to create a clinical decision-making algorithm on the basis of the patient's stage. In this review we will summarize the evolution of the bipolar disorder staging model in relation to the new discoveries on the neurobiology of bipolar disorder. Furthermore, we will discuss how the latest and future progress in psychiatry might transform current staging models into precision staging models.

Antidepressant-induced hypomania/mania in patients with major depression: Evidence from the BRIDGE-II-MIX study

BACKGROUND

The issue of antidepressant-induced mood switches to hypomania, mania, or mixed states within the course of mayor depressive disorder (MDD) has been a controversial topic. The present post-hoc analysis of the BRIDGE-II-MIX study focuses on the clinical features of patients with history of antidepressant-induced hypomania/mania (AIHM) in a large international sample of patients with major depressive episode (MDE).

METHODS

2811 subjects with major depression were enrolled in this multicentre cross-sectional study. Current mixed symptoms, socio-demographic and other clinical variables were collected and compared among MDD-AIHM, MDD and BD patients.

RESULTS

475 patients out of 2811 had history of AIHM (16.90%). In the MDD-AIHM group, familiarity for BD and rates of atypical features and comorbid anxiety, eating and borderline personality disorders were similar to BD and significantly more frequent compared to MDD group. MDD-AIHM patients had more frequently more than 3 episodes and reported higher rates of treatment resistance, mood lability and irritability following treatment with antidepressants. Frequencies of depression with mixed features and (hypo)manic symptoms were similar in patients of MDD-AIHM and BD groups and significantly higher in both groups than in MDD.

LIMITATIONS

there were widely varying rates of hospitalized patients across countries and the participating centres were not randomly selected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results strongly support the DSM-5 inclusion of MDD patients with AIHM within the rubric of bipolar disorder. Differences with other MDD and BD were also observed suggesting the possibility that MDD-AIHM may represent a specific sub-population, particularly sensitive to exogenous input from antidepressants.

A study on the bioequivalence of lithium and valproate salivary and blood levels in the treatment of bipolar disorder

Lithium (Li) and valproate (VPA) are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD), with narrow therapeutic window requiring periodic control of serum levels. This prevents intoxication, lack of efficacy due to low serum concentrations, and allows monitoring adherence. We aimed at evaluating the bioequivalence of salivary and blood levels of LI or VPA in a sample of adult BD patients. Secondarily, lithium bioequivalence was evaluated across different patients' lifespans. BD patients treated with either Li or VPA underwent contemporary standard serum and salivary measurements. Blood levels of both drugs were taken according to standard procedures. Li salivary levels were performed by an adapted potentiometric method on the AVL9180 electrolyte analyzer. VPA salivary levels were taken with an immune-assay method with turbidimetric inhibition. A total of 50 patients (38 on Li, 12 on VPA) were enrolled. Blood-saliva bioequivalence for VPA was not found due to a high variability in salivary measures. Li measures resulted in a high correlation (r=0.767, p<0.001), showing no partial correlation with age (r=0.147, p=0.380). Li salivary test is a reliable method of measuring Li availability and is equivalent to serum levels. Potential advantages of Li salivary testing are its non-invasive nature and the possibility of doing the test during the usual appointment with the psychiatrist.

Deriving ICD-11 personality disorder domains from dsm-5 traits: initial attempt to harmonize two diagnostic systems

OBJECTIVE

The personality disorder domains proposed for the ICD-11 comprise Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Dissociality, Disinhibition, and Anankastia, which are reasonably concordant with the higher-order trait domains in the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders.

METHOD

We examined (i) whether designated DSM-5 trait facets can be used to describe the proposed ICD-11 trait domains, and (ii) how these ICD-11 trait features are hierarchically organized. A mixed Danish derivation sample (N = 1541) of 615 psychiatric out-patients and 925 community participants along with a US replication sample (N = 637) completed the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Sixteen PID-5 traits were designated to cover features of the ICD-11 trait domains.

RESULTS

Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) analyzes showed that the designated traits were meaningfully organized in the proposed ICD-11 five-domain structure as well as other recognizable higher-order models of personality and psychopathology. Model fits revealed that the five proposed ICD-11 personality disorder domains were satisfactorily resembled, and replicated in the independent US sample.

CONCLUSION

The proposed ICD-11 personality disorder domains can be accurately described using designated traits from the DSM-5 personality trait system. A scoring algorithm for the ICD-11 personality disorder domains is provided in appendix.

Cognitive Impairment in Bipolar Disorder: Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Over the last decade, there has been a growing appreciation of the importance of identifying and treating cognitive impairment associated with bipolar disorder, since it persists in remission periods. Evidence indicates that neurocognitive dysfunction may significantly influence patients' psychosocial outcomes. An ever-increasing body of research seeks to achieve a better understanding of potential moderators contributing to cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder in order to develop prevention strategies and effective treatments. This review provides an overview of the available data from studies examining treatments for cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder as well as potential novel treatments, from both pharmacological and psychological perspectives. All these data encourage the development of further studies to find effective strategies to prevent and treat cognitive impairment associated with bipolar disorder. These efforts may ultimately lead to an improvement of psychosocial functioning in these patients.