Onset of mania after CPAP in a man with obstructive sleep apnea

A fully integrated new paradigm for lithium's mode of action - lithium utilizes latent cellular fail-safe mechanisms

It is proposed that lithium's therapeutic effects occur indirectly by augmenting a cascade of protective "fail-safe" pathways pre-configured to activate in response to a dangerous low cell [Mg⁺⁺] situation, eg, posttraumatic brain injury, alongside relative cell adenosine triphosphate depletion. Lithium activates cell protection, as it neatly mimics a lowered intracellular [Mg⁺⁺] level.

Risk factors for sleep apnea in children with bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

While studies have suggested an increased prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in adults with Bipolar Disorder (BPD), little is published about children with BPD. Behavioral difficulties including emotional liability, depression and poor school performance are commonly reported in children with either BPD or OSA. Comorbid medical disorders may exacerbate the course of BPD. We reviewed demographic and polysomnogram characteristics of children with BPD to help outpatient identification of OSA.

METHODS

A single center retrospective chart review of children with BPD referred for a polysomnogram (PSG) over a ten-year period was conducted. There were 27 children identified whose diagnosis of BPD was independently verified by a child psychiatrist using DSM-IV standard criteria.

RESULTS

Six (22%) children had OSA with a median apnea-hyponea index of 7.5 events per hour. Variables that were significantly different between the OSA and non-OSA groups were: median BMI (47 vs 30 kg/m(2), p=0.001); sleep efficiency (78.2% vs 91%, p=0.009); and oxygen saturation nadir (82% vs 92%, p=0.0003). There was no difference found in snoring percentage on PSG between the two groups.

LIMITATIONS

The retrospective design from a single tertiary center limited the cohort size. Only secondary verification of the diagnosis of BPD from the available medical record was possible.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that extreme obesity (BMI >40 kg/m(2)), oxygen desaturation during sleep and frequent nocturnal awakenings are associated with OSA in children with BPD. Traditional clinical parameters for obesity and snoring, per se, are poor predictors of OSA in children with BPD.

Obstructive sleep apnea and psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with psychiatric pathology. Psychiatric comorbidity in OSA may affect patient quality of life and adherence to CPAP. A focused evaluation of OSA in highly selected groups of primarily psychiatric patients may provide further insights into the factors contributing to comorbidity of OSA and psychopathology. The goal of this study is to examine the prevalence and treatment of OSA in psychiatric populations.

METHODS

A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to determine the prevalence of OSA in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders, and to examine potential interventions. The PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched (last search April 26, 2014) using keywords based on the ICD-9-CM coding for OSA and the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic groups.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 47 records concerning studies of OSA in the selected disorders. The prevalence studies indicate that there may be an increased prevalence of OSA in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), despite considerable heterogeneity and a high risk of bias. There was insufficient evidence to support increased OSA in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, bipolar and related disorders, and anxiety disorders other than PTSD. Studies of treatment of OSA indicate an improvement in both OSA and psychiatric symptoms. CPAP adherence was reduced in veterans with PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA prevalence may be increased in MDD and PTSD. In individuals with OSA and psychiatric illness, treatment of both disorders should be considered for optimal treatment outcomes.

Sleep-disordered breathing and psychiatric disorders

Sleep-disordered breathing, the commonest form of which is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is increasingly recognised as a treatable cause of morbidity. It shares many risk factors with psychiatric disorders including behaviours such as smoking and physical comorbidity. Many symptoms of the two overlap, leaving OSA often undetected and undertreated. In the few studies that assess the two, OSA is commonly comorbid with depression (17-45%) and schizophrenia (up to 55%) and possibly bipolar. There is some limited evidence that treating OSA can ameliorate psychiatric symptoms. Some psychotropics, such as narcotics, cause sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), whilst weight-inducing neuroleptics may exacerbate it. An extreme form of SDB, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is a risk in mothers with substance abuse. Being aware of these common comorbidities may help improve psychiatric patient's treatment and quality of life.

CPAP-induced mania in bipolar disorder: a case report

OBJECTIVE

In this case report we present our clinical observations of two patients with bipolar disorder with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for their sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the presence of one or more episodes of mania and frequent episodes of depression. This disorder affects approximately 0.8% of the adult population, with estimates from community samples ranging between 0.4% and 1.6%. OSA syndrome is a severe sleep disorder with a prevalence of 2-4% in the general population, the risk of which is increased by obesity. The prevalence of OSA is expected to be high in bipolar disorder due to high comorbid obesity. It is expected that improvement in OSA in patients with bipolar disorder with CPAP will improve mood and other symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, there is a relative lack of data examining this aspect.

RESULTS

In both cases of bipolar disorder, CPAP was started after a polysomnographic diagnosis of OSA and CPAP titration study indicating that most of the apneas/hypopneas were eliminated with a significant improvement in oxygen saturation. To our surprise, we noted that in both of these cases initiation of CPAP resulted in manic symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians need to monitor patients with bipolar disorder closely for worsening of manic symptoms when they are started on CPAP for underlying OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnea and severe mental illness: evolution and consequences

Sleep complaints are commonly encountered in psychiatric clinics. Underlying medical disorders or sleep disorders need to be identified and treated to optimize treatment of the mental illness. Excessive daytime sleepiness, which is the main symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), overlaps with those of many severe mental illnesses. Medication side effects or the disorder itself maybe account for daytime sleepiness but comorbid OSA is a possibility that should not be overlooked. The diagnosis of OSA is straightforward but treatment compliance is problematic in psychiatric patients. This article summarizes studies concerning comorbid OSA in patients with severe mental illness and includes suggestions for future investigations.