Post-traumatic stress symptoms and trauma exposure in youth with first episode bipolar disorder

Genetics, epigenetics, and neurobiology of childhood-onset depression: an umbrella review

Depression is a serious and persistent psychiatric disorder that commonly first manifests during childhood. Depression that starts in childhood is increasing in frequency, likely due both to evolutionary trends and to increased recognition of the disorder. In this umbrella review, we systematically searched the extant literature for genetic, epigenetic, and neurobiological factors that contribute to a childhood onset of depression. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, OVID/PsychInfo, and Google Scholar with the following inclusion criteria: (1) systematic review or meta-analysis from a peer-reviewed journal; (2) inclusion of a measure assessing early age of onset of depression; and (3) assessment of neurobiological, genetic, environmental, and epigenetic predictors of early onset depression. Findings from 89 systematic reviews of moderate to high quality suggest that childhood-onset depressive disorders have neurobiological, genetic, environmental, and epigenetic roots consistent with a diathesis-stress theory of depression. This review identified key putative markers that may be targeted for personalized clinical decision-making and provide important insights concerning candidate mechanisms that might underpin the early onset of depression.

The Effect of Traumatic Events on the Longitudinal Course and Outcomes of Youth with Bipolar Disorder

BACKGROUND

Exposure to severe Traumatic Events (TEs) has been associated with poor course and outcomes among individuals with Bipolar Disorder (BD). However, there is limited research on TEs among youth with BD, and few studies are longitudinal. This study prospectively followed a large sample of BD youth, examining the associations of lifetime TEs with their mood and functioning.

METHODS

BD participants (n=375; mean age=17; range 8-25y) were assessed, on average, every 7 months for a median 8.7 years. Psychopathology and lifetime trauma history were prospectively evaluated using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-Up Evaluation, and a traumatic events screening.

RESULTS

Accounting for covariates, participants with one or more lifetime TEs (84%) showed earlier BD onset, poorer psychosocial functioning, worse mood symptoms, and more suicidal ideation, comorbidities, and family psychopathology than those without TEs. TEs during recovery periods increased recurrence risk (p<0.02). More TEs were associated with poorer mood course, particularly among victims of violence/abuse (p<0.02). Abused participants (34% physical; 17% sexual) showed earlier onset of substance use disorders, more suicidality and comorbidities compared to those without abuse. Comparisons of mood course before and after abuse occurred, and with participants without abuse, showed worsening mood symptoms after, specifically hypo/mania (p<0.03).

LIMITATIONS

Prospective data was gathered longitudinally but assessed retrospectively at every follow-up; given approximate dates causality cannot be inferred; TEs severity was not assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe TEs, particularly abuse, were associated with poorer course and outcomes among BD youth. Prompt screening of trauma and early intervention may be warranted to minimize TEs impact.

Differentiating the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorders in adults: Utilizing a trauma-informed assessment approach

In adult populations, bipolar disorders (BDs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have overlapping symptoms, potentially leading to misdiagnosis. This misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose both co-occurring disorders can result in individuals not receiving the proper treatment to address their symptoms. This article highlights how trauma-informed psychological assessment can assist in differential diagnosis and improve the timely delivery of appropriate treatments. The overlapping symptoms of PTSD and BD are discussed to assist in differential diagnosis, and we suggest guidelines for conducting trauma-informed, evidence-based assessments to help clarify these diagnoses.

Mothers and fathers of children with epilepsy: gender differences in post-traumatic stress symptoms and correlations with mood spectrum symptoms

BACKGROUND

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress spectrum have been recently applied to understand the impact of life-threatening disease or injury in one's child; nevertheless, scant data are available on a particular chronic illness such as epilepsy whose phenotypic expression is seizures, which are acute, sudden, and unpredictable manifestations. Subjects with bipolar disorders or with mood spectrum symptoms demonstrated to be more vulnerable to develop PTSD in the aftermath of a trauma.

OBJECTIVES

The main aim of this study was to evaluate post-traumatic symptoms among 134 parents of children with a diagnosis of epilepsy, followed at the outpatient neurologic unit of Department of Pediatrics in Santa Chiara Hospital in Pisa, as well as gender differences. The second aim of this study was to estimate the impact of lifetime mood spectrum on post-traumatic stress symptoms in the same study sample after fulfillment of the Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) and the Mood Spectrum-Self Report (MOODS-SR) lifetime version.

RESULTS

Results showed 10.4% and 37.3% of PTSD full and partial, respectively. Demographic characteristics and clinical features of the study sample did not show any impact on stress symptomatology. Mothers presented higher rates at all Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 PTSD symptoms' clusters except avoidance. Nevertheless, noteworthy correlations between post-traumatic symptomatology and mood spectrum symptoms detected with the self-report tools, emerged only in the subgroup of the fathers.

CONCLUSION

These findings corroborate the need to provide assistance to caregivers of pediatric patients and confirm the hypothesis that lifetime mood spectrum may have an impact on reaction to traumas.

Lifetime mania is related to post-traumatic stress symptoms in high school students exposed to the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake

BACKGROUND

Bipolar patients seem to be at high risk of trauma exposure and, when exposed, of PTSD. When comorbid, PTSD has shown a negative impact on the course of the bipolar illness. Conversely, a correlation between even manic symptoms and an increased risk for suicide has also been reported in PTSD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between lifetime mood spectrum symptoms and PTSD in a sample of earthquake survivors.

METHODS

A total of 475 young adults who survived the L'Aquila 2009 earthquake, 21months earlier, were assessed by the Moods Spectrum-Self Report (MOODS-SR) and the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self Report (TALS-SR).

RESULTS

Significantly higher MOODS-SR and TALS-SR domain scores were found in PTSD survivors compared to those without. The mood depressive (O.R.=1.17, 95% CI: 1.10-1.25), cognition depressive (O.R.=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.14) and energy manic (O.R.=1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.25) MOODS-SR domains were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data corroborate the strong relationship between mood disorder and PTSD highlighting a relationship between lifetime depressive and manic symptoms and PTSD, with a particular impact of the latter on the number of traumatic exposures and maladaptive behaviors.

New DSM-5 maladaptive symptoms in PTSD: gender differences and correlations with mood spectrum symptoms in a sample of high school students following survival of an earthquake

BACKGROUND

Gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates were confirmed across different DSM editions as well as the role of bipolar disorder (BD) comorbidity on prevalence and course, but little data is available upon new DSM-5 criteria, including maladaptive behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in DSM-5 PTSD in a sample of young adult earthquake survivors and the impact of lifetime mood spectrum comorbidity.

METHODS

Five hundred twelve young adult survivors from the L'Aquila 2009 earthquake were evaluated by Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) and Mood Spectrum-Self Report (MOODS-SR).

RESULTS

Females showed significantly higher DSM-5 PTSD prevalence rates than men. Similarly, female survivors with DSM-5 PTSD showed significantly higher scores in several of the MOODS-SR and TALS-SR domains with respect to males. Males showed significantly higher scores in the TALS-SR maladaptive coping domain only. A significant positive association between the MOODS-SR manic-hypomanic component and TALS-SR potentially traumatic events and maladaptive coping domains emerged in the whole sample, particularly among men.

CONCLUSION

This study allows a first glimpse on gender differences in DSM-5 PTSD criteria in a sample of earthquake survivors. Further, possible correlations with subthreshold manic-hypomanic comorbidity are suggested among males, showing a significant trend particularly for lifetime trauma exposure and for the newly introduced maladaptive behaviors.

Complex PTSD, affect dysregulation, and borderline personality disorder

Complex PTSD (cPTSD) was formulated to include, in addition to the core PTSD symptoms, dysregulation in three psychobiological areas: (1) emotion processing, (2) self-organization (including bodily integrity), and (3) relational security. The overlap of diagnostic criteria for cPTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD) raises questions about the scientific integrity and clinical utility of the cPTSD construct/diagnosis, as well as opportunities to achieve an increasingly nuanced understanding of the role of psychological trauma in BPD. We review clinical and scientific findings regarding comorbidity, clinical phenomenology and neurobiology of BPD, PTSD, and cPTSD, and the role of traumatic victimization (in general and specific to primary caregivers), dissociation, and affect dysregulation. Findings suggest that BPD may involve heterogeneity related to psychological trauma that includes, but extends beyond, comorbidity with PTSD and potentially involves childhood victimization-related dissociation and affect dysregulation consistent with cPTSD. Although BPD and cPTSD overlap substantially, it is unwarranted to conceptualize cPTSD either as a replacement for BPD, or simply as a sub-type of BPD. We conclude with implications for clinical practice and scientific research based on a better differentiated view of cPTSD, BPD and PTSD.

Can pediatric bipolar-I disorder be diagnosed in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder? A familial risk analysis

Despite ongoing concerns that traumatized children with severe symptoms of emotional dysregulation may be inappropriately receiving a diagnosis of pediatric bipolar-I (BP-I) disorder, this issue has not been adequately examined in the literature. Because both pediatric BP-I disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are familial disorders, if children with both BP-I and PTSD were to be truly affected with BP-I disorder, their relatives would be at high risk for BP-I disorder. To this end, we compared patterns of familial aggregation of BP-I disorder in BP-I children with and without PTSD with age and sex matched controls. Participants were 236 youths with BP-I disorder and 136 controls of both sexes along with their siblings. Participants completed a large battery of measures designed to assess psychiatric disorders, psychosocial, educational, and cognitive parameters. Familial risk analysis revealed that relatives of BP-I probands with and without PTSD had similar elevated rates of BP-I disorder that significantly differed from those of relatives of controls. Pediatric BP-I disorder is similarly highly familial in probands with and without PTSD indicating that their co-occurrence is not due to diagnostic error.

BDNF function as a potential mediator of bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder comorbidity

Bipolar disorder (BD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently co-occur among psychiatric patients, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) function is associated with core characteristics of both BD and PTSD. We propose a neurobiological model that underscores the role of reduced BDNF function resulting from several contributing sources, including the met variant of the BDNF val66met (rs6265) single-nucleotide polymorphism, trauma-induced epigenetic regulation and current stress, as a contributor to the onset of both illnesses within the same person. Further studies are needed to evaluate the genetic association between the val66met allele and the BD-PTSD population, along with central/peripheral BDNF levels and epigenetic patterns of BDNF gene regulation within these patients.