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Ratheesh A, Hett D, Ramain J, Wong E, Berk L, Conus P, Fristad MA, Goldstein T, Hillegers M, Jauhar S, Kessing LV, Miklowitz DJ, Murray G, Scott J, Tohen M, Yatham LN, Young AH, Berk M, Marwaha S. A systematic review of interventions in the early course of bipolar disorder I or II: a report of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Taskforce on early intervention. Int J Bipolar Disord 2023; 11:1. [PMID: 36595095 PMCID: PMC9810772 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-022-00275-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the likelihood of progressive illness in bipolar disorder (BD), it is important to understand the benefits and risks of interventions administered early in illness course. We conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions in the early course of BD I or II. METHODS We completed a systematic search on MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL and Google Scholar from 1/1/1979 till 14/9/2022. We included controlled trials examining intervention effects on symptomatic, course, functional and tolerability outcomes of patients in the 'early course' of BD I or II. We classified patients to be in early course if they (a) were seeking help for the first time for a manic episode, (b) had a lifetime history of up to 3 manic episodes, or (c) had up to 6 lifetime mood episodes. Evidence quality was assessed using the GRADE approach. RESULTS From 4135 unique publications we included 25 reports representing 2212 participants in 16 randomized studies, and 17,714 participants from nine non-randomized studies. Available evidence suggested that in early illness course, lithium use was associated with lower recurrence risk compared with other mood stabilizers. Mood stabilizers were also associated with better global functioning, compared with the use of antipsychotics in the medium term. While summative findings regarding psychological therapies were limited by heterogeneity, family-focused and cognitive-behavioral interventions were associated with reduced recurrence risk or improved symptomatic outcomes. There was some evidence that the same pharmacological interventions were more efficacious in preventing recurrences when utilized in earlier rather than later illness course. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS While there are promising initial findings, there is a need for more adequately powered trials to examine the efficacy and tolerability of interventions in youth and adults in early illness course. Specifically, there is a compelling need to compare the relative benefits of lithium with other pharmacological agents in preventing recurrences. In addition to symptomatic outcomes, there should be a greater focus on functional impact and tolerability. Effective pharmacological and psychological interventions should be offered to those in early course of BD, balancing potential risks using shared decision-making approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Ratheesh
- grid.488501.00000 0004 8032 6923Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, VIC Australia ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XCentre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - D. Hett
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK ,Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - J. Ramain
- grid.8515.90000 0001 0423 4662TIPP Program, Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - E. Wong
- grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XCentre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - L. Berk
- grid.414257.10000 0004 0540 0062IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - P. Conus
- grid.8515.90000 0001 0423 4662TIPP Program, Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - M. A. Fristad
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - T. Goldstein
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - M. Hillegers
- grid.5645.2000000040459992XDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S. Jauhar
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,grid.415717.10000 0001 2324 5535South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX UK
| | - L. V. Kessing
- grid.475435.4Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research Center (CADIC), Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark ,grid.5254.60000 0001 0674 042XDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D. J. Miklowitz
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - G. Murray
- grid.1027.40000 0004 0409 2862Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - J. Scott
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - M. Tohen
- grid.266832.b0000 0001 2188 8502Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM USA
| | - L. N. Yatham
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - A. H. Young
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK ,grid.415717.10000 0001 2324 5535South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BX UK
| | - M. Berk
- grid.414257.10000 0004 0540 0062IMPACT-The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - S. Marwaha
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK ,Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
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Torres IJ, Qian H, Basivireddy J, Chakrabarty T, Wong H, Lam RW, Yatham LN. Three-year longitudinal cognitive functioning in patients recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2020; 141:98-109. [PMID: 31840225 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The longitudinal course of neuropsychological functioning after the first manic episode in bipolar disorder is unknown. The present study evaluated cognitive change in bipolar disorder in the first 3 years after the initial manic episode. METHODS Ninety-one newly diagnosed patients with bipolar disorder and 61 demographically similar healthy participants received a neuropsychological evaluation assessing multiple cognitive domains at baseline, 1-year, and 3-year time points. Patients also received clinical assessments including mood ratings at all time points. RESULTS Patients showed deficits in all domains at baseline, but similar longitudinal trajectories across time relative to healthy participants in most cognitive domains. For processing speed, patients showed more gains than controls from baseline to 1 year, but these gains stabilized thereafter. Patients with alcohol/substance abuse showed an initial delay but subsequent recovery in executive functioning. Patients who discontinued antipsychotic treatment showed better cognitive outcomes in verbal memory. CONCLUSION Appropriately treated patients with bipolar disorder showed favorable cognitive outcome in the first 3 years after experiencing an initial manic episode, arguing against cognitive neuroprogression at this stage of the illness. Discontinuation of antipsychotic treatment may be associated with better cognitive outcomes, but clarification of the role of antipsychotics on cognitive functioning requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- I J Torres
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - H Qian
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - J Basivireddy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - T Chakrabarty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - H Wong
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Although quality of life (QoL) is receiving increasing attention in bipolar disorder (BD) research and practice, little is known about its naturalistic trajectory. The dual aims of this study were to prospectively investigate: (a) the trajectory of QoL under guideline-driven treatment and (b) the dynamic relationship between mood symptoms and QoL. METHODS In total, 362 patients with BD receiving guideline-driven treatment were prospectively followed at 3-month intervals for up to 5 years. Mental (Mental Component Score - MCS) and physical (Physical Component Score - PCS) QoL were measured using the self-report SF-36. Clinician-rated symptom data were recorded for mania and depression. Multilevel modelling was used to analyse MCS and PCS over time, QoL trajectories predicted by time-lagged symptoms, and symptom trajectories predicted by time-lagged QoL. RESULTS MCS exhibited a positive trajectory, while PCS worsened over time. Investigation of temporal relationships between QoL and symptoms suggested bidirectional effects: earlier depressive symptoms were negatively associated with mental QoL, and earlier manic symptoms were negatively associated with physical QoL. Importantly, earlier MCS and PCS were both negatively associated with downstream symptoms of mania and depression. CONCLUSIONS The present investigation illustrates real-world outcomes for QoL under guideline-driven BD treatment: improvements in mental QoL and decrements in physical QoL were observed. The data permitted investigation of dynamic interactions between QoL and symptoms, generating novel evidence for bidirectional effects and encouraging further research into this important interplay. Investigation of relevant time-varying covariates (e.g. medications) was beyond scope. Future research should investigate possible determinants of QoL and the interplay between symptoms and wellbeing/satisfaction-centric measures of QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Morton
- Faculty of Health,Arts and Design Swinburne University,Melbourne,Australia
| | - G Murray
- Faculty of Health,Arts and Design Swinburne University,Melbourne,Australia
| | - E E Michalak
- Department of Psychiatry,University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC,Canada
| | - R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry,University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC,Canada
| | - S Beaulieu
- Bipolar Disorders Program,Department of Psychiatry,Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University,Montreal, QC,Canada
| | - V Sharma
- Regional Mental Health Care London,London, ON,Canada
| | - P Cervantes
- Mood Disorders Program,Department of Psychiatry,McGill University Health Center (MUHC),Montreal,Canada
| | - S V Parikh
- Department of Psychiatry,Toronto Western Hospital,Toronto, ON,Canada
| | - L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry,University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC,Canada
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4
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Miskowiak KW, Burdick KE, Martinez-Aran A, Bonnin CM, Bowie CR, Carvalho AF, Gallagher P, Lafer B, López-Jaramillo C, Sumiyoshi T, McIntyre RS, Schaffer A, Porter RJ, Purdon S, Torres IJ, Yatham LN, Young AH, Kessing LV, Vieta E. Assessing and addressing cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder: the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Targeting Cognition Task Force recommendations for clinicians. Bipolar Disord 2018; 20:184-194. [PMID: 29345040 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cognition is a new treatment target to aid functional recovery and enhance quality of life for patients with bipolar disorder. The International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) Targeting Cognition Task Force aimed to develop consensus-based clinical recommendations on whether, when and how to assess and address cognitive impairment. METHODS The task force, consisting of 19 international experts from nine countries, discussed the challenges and recommendations in a face-to-face meeting, telephone conference call and email exchanges. Consensus-based recommendations were achieved through these exchanges with no need for formal consensus methods. RESULTS The identified questions were: (I) Should cognitive screening assessments be routinely conducted in clinical settings? (II) What are the most feasible screening tools? (III) What are the implications if cognitive impairment is detected? (IV) What are the treatment perspectives? Key recommendations are that clinicians: (I) formally screen cognition in partially or fully remitted patients whenever possible, (II) use brief, easy-to-administer tools such as the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry and Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment, and (III) evaluate the impact of medication and comorbidity, refer patients for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation when clinically indicated, and encourage patients to build cognitive reserve. Regarding question (IV), there is limited evidence for current evidence-based treatments but intense research efforts are underway to identify new pharmacological and/or psychological cognition treatments. CONCLUSIONS This task force paper provides the first consensus-based recommendations for clinicians on whether, when, and how to assess and address cognition, which may aid patients' functional recovery and improve their quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- K W Miskowiak
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Deparment of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K E Burdick
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Martinez-Aran
- Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - C M Bonnin
- Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - C R Bowie
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - A F Carvalho
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - P Gallagher
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - B Lafer
- Bipolar Disorder Research Program, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - C López-Jaramillo
- Research Group in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - T Sumiyoshi
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - R S McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - A Schaffer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - R J Porter
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - S Purdon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - I J Torres
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - A H Young
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - L V Kessing
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research Centre (CADIC), Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - E Vieta
- Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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5
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Bonnín CM, Yatham LN, Michalak EE, Martínez-Arán A, Dhanoa T, Torres I, Santos-Pascual C, Valls E, Carvalho AF, Sánchez-Moreno J, Valentí M, Grande I, Hidalgo-Mazzei D, Vieta E, Reinares M. Psychometric properties of the well-being index (WHO-5) spanish version in a sample of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2018; 228:153-159. [PMID: 29248821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of well-being which focuses on positive emotions has received increased research attention. However, a consensus definition of this term is lacking. The Well-Being Index scale (WHO-5) is a generic, self-report scale that contains five Likert-type items to evaluate psychological well-being. This construct may provide a relevant outcome in bipolar disorder (BD) research and care beyond the rating of mood symptoms. Thus, in the current study, the psychometric properties of the WHO-5 Spanish version were assessed in a sample of euthymic patients with BD. METHODS Patients with BD- I and BD-II and healthy controls completed the Well-Being Index (WHO-5) together with an assessment of depressive (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17; HAM-D) and manic symptoms (Young Mania Rating Scale; YMRS); and a measure of psychosocial functioning (Functioning Assessment Short Test; FAST). Internal consistency reliability was measured through Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was calculated comparing the WHO-5 total score at baseline and after 10 days of the first administration. To assess the structure of the scale, a principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out. Correlations between the WHO-5, HAM-D, YMRS and FAST were calculated. Finally, a t-test for independent samples was applied to compare the WHO-5 total score in the patient and control groups. RESULTS A total of 104 patients with BD and 40 healthy controls were included in this study. A Chronbach's alpha of 0.83 indicated acceptable internal consistency. A paired sample t-test revealed no significant differences between WHO-5 total score at baseline and at follow-up (tn = - 0.72; df = 15; p = 0.48). The PCA provided a single factor solution that accounted for 59.74% of the variation in WHO-5. Test-retest reliability was high (r = 0.83; p < 0.001). Moderate negative correlations were observed between the WHO-5 total score, the FAST (r = - 0.46.; p < 0.001) and the HAM-D (r = - 0.68; p < 0.001), but not with the YMRS (r = - 0.07; p = 0.42). Finally, significant differences were found when comparing the WHO-5 total score between patient and healthy controls (t = 5.1; df = 147; p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS some limitations include the lack of a comparator scale to test for validity construct and the small sample size in the test-retest reliability CONCLUSIONS: The WHO-5 shows an acceptable reliability index and measures a unitary construct in a Spanish population of euthymic patients with BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Bonnín
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - E E Michalak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - A Martínez-Arán
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - T Dhanoa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - I Torres
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Santos-Pascual
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - E Valls
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - A F Carvalho
- Translational Psychiatry Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - J Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Valentí
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - I Grande
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - D Hidalgo-Mazzei
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - E Vieta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - M Reinares
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Miskowiak KW, Burdick KE, Martinez‐Aran A, Bonnin CM, Bowie CR, Carvalho AF, Gallagher P, Lafer B, López‐Jaramillo C, Sumiyoshi T, McIntyre RS, Schaffer A, Porter RJ, Torres IJ, Yatham LN, Young AH, Kessing LV, Vieta E. Methodological recommendations for cognition trials in bipolar disorder by the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Targeting Cognition Task Force. Bipolar Disord 2017; 19:614-626. [PMID: 28895274 PMCID: PMC6282834 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To aid the development of treatment for cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) convened a task force to create a consensus-based guidance paper for the methodology and design of cognition trials in bipolar disorder. METHODS The task force was launched in September 2016, consisting of 18 international experts from nine countries. A series of methodological issues were identified based on literature review and expert opinion. The issues were discussed and expanded upon in an initial face-to-face meeting, telephone conference call and email exchanges. Based upon these exchanges, recommendations were achieved. RESULTS Key methodological challenges are: lack of consensus on how to screen for entry into cognitive treatment trials, define cognitive impairment, track efficacy, assess functional implications, and manage mood symptoms and concomitant medication. Task force recommendations are to: (i) enrich trials with objectively measured cognitively impaired patients; (ii) generally select a broad cognitive composite score as the primary outcome and a functional measure as a key secondary outcome; and (iii) include remitted or partly remitted patients. It is strongly encouraged that trials exclude patients with current substance or alcohol use disorders, neurological disease or unstable medical illness, and keep non-study medications stable. Additional methodological considerations include neuroimaging assessments, targeting of treatments to illness stage and using a multimodal approach. CONCLUSIONS This ISBD task force guidance paper provides the first consensus-based recommendations for cognition trials in bipolar disorder. Adherence to these recommendations will likely improve the sensitivity in detecting treatment efficacy in future trials and increase comparability between studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- KW Miskowiak
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research CentrePsychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletCopenhagenDenmark
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - KE Burdick
- Department of PsychiatryBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - A Martinez‐Aran
- Clinical Institute of NeuroscienceHospital ClinicUniversity of BarcelonaIDIBAPSCIBERSAMBarcelonaCataloniaSpain
| | - CM Bonnin
- Clinical Institute of NeuroscienceHospital ClinicUniversity of BarcelonaIDIBAPSCIBERSAMBarcelonaCataloniaSpain
| | - CR Bowie
- Department of PsychologyQueen's UniversityKingstonCanada
| | - AF Carvalho
- Department of Clinical MedicineFederal University of CearáFortalezaBrazil
| | - P Gallagher
- Institute of NeuroscienceNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - B Lafer
- Bipolar Disorder Research ProgramInstitute of PsychiatryUniversity of São Paulo Medical SchoolSão PauloBrazil
| | - C López‐Jaramillo
- Research Group in PsychiatryDepartment of PsychiatryUniversidad de AntioquiaMedellínColombia
| | - T Sumiyoshi
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyNational Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - RS McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - A Schaffer
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - RJ Porter
- Department of Psychological MedicineUniversity of OtagoChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - IJ Torres
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - LN Yatham
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - AH Young
- Department of Psychological MedicineInstitute of PsychiatryPsychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - LV Kessing
- Copenhagen Affective Disorder Research CentrePsychiatric Centre CopenhagenCopenhagen University HospitalRigshospitaletCopenhagenDenmark
| | - E Vieta
- Clinical Institute of NeuroscienceHospital ClinicUniversity of BarcelonaIDIBAPSCIBERSAMBarcelonaCataloniaSpain
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7
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Bond DJ, Torres IJ, Lee SS, Kozicky JM, Silveira LE, Dhanoa T, Lam RW, Yatham LN. Lower cognitive functioning as a predictor of weight gain in bipolar disorder: a 12-month study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2017; 135:239-249. [PMID: 27995622 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In cross-sectional studies, elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder (BD). We investigated the direction of this association by prospectively examining changes in BMI and cognition. METHOD We measured BMI and performance in six cognitive domains over 12 months in 80 adolescent and young adult BD patients and 46 healthy comparison subjects (HS). Ninety-three percent of patients received pharmacotherapy and 84% were euthymic. We used repeated-measures ancova and longitudinal mixed models to investigate whether (i) higher BMI and increasing BMI over time predicted lower subsequent cognitive functioning, and (ii) lower cognitive functioning and changes in cognition predicted increasing BMI. RESULTS Neither baseline BMI nor BMI change predicted lower cognitive functioning. Lower baseline scores in attention, verbal memory, working memory, and a composite measure of global cognition predicted increasing BMI in patients and HS. In patients, lower cognitive functioning remained associated with increasing BMI when clinical and treatment variables were adjusted for. Improvement in working memory predicted a smaller subsequent BMI increase in patients. CONCLUSION Lower cognitive functioning in specific domains predicts increasing BMI in patients with BD and healthy young adults. Targeting cognition may be important for minimizing weight gain in BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Bond
- Mood Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - I J Torres
- Mood Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - S S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J-M Kozicky
- Mood Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - L E Silveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - T Dhanoa
- Mood Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - R W Lam
- Mood Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - L N Yatham
- Mood Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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8
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Bücker J, Fries GR, Kapczinski F, Post RM, Yatham LN, Vianna P, Bogo Chies JA, Gama CS, Magalhães PV, Aguiar BW, Pfaffenseller B, Kauer-Sant'Anna M. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and inflammatory markers in school-aged children with early trauma. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015; 131:360-8. [PMID: 25401224 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The impact of childhood trauma (CT) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines levels remains unclear. We investigated the association between CT and changes in BDNF and cytokines plasma levels in children. METHOD We recruited 36 children with trauma (CT+) and 26 children without trauma (CT-). The presence of CT was based on a clinical interview and by Criteria A of DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Blood samples were drawn from all children to assess BDNF and cytokines. ancova was performed with psychiatric symptoms and BMI as covariates to evaluate group differences in plasma levels. RESULTS CT+ showed increased levels of BDNF and TNF-α after excluding children with history of inflammatory disease (P<0.05) when compared with those CT-. IL-12p70, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1β levels were not statistically different between groups. CONCLUSION CT+ showed increased BDNF and proinflammatory cytokines levels. The increase in BDNF levels may be an attempt to neutralize the negative effects of CT, while an increase in TNF-a levels be associated with a proinflammatory state after CT. How these changes associated with trauma relate to other biological changes and illness trajectory later in life remain to be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bücker
- Bipolar Disorder Program and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, National Institute for Translational Medicine, INCT-TM Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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McGirr A, Berlim MT, Bond DJ, Fleck MP, Yatham LN, Lam RW. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ketamine in the rapid treatment of major depressive episodes. Psychol Med 2015; 45:693-704. [PMID: 25010396 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291714001603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing interest in glutamatergic agents in depression, particularly ketamine, a glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. We aimed to assess the efficacy of ketamine in major depressive episodes. METHOD We searched EMBASE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Medline from 1962 to January 2014 to identify double-blind, randomized controlled trials with allocation concealment evaluating ketamine in major depressive episodes. Clinical remission, response and depressive symptoms were extracted by two independent raters. The primary outcome measure was clinical remission at 24 h, 3 days and 7 days post-treatment. Analyses employed a random-effects model. RESULTS Data were synthesized from seven RCTs employing an intravenous infusion and one RCT employing intranasal ketamine, representing 73 subjects in parallel arms and 110 subjects in cross-over designs [n = 34 with bipolar disorder (BD), n = 149 with major depressive disorder (MDD)]. Ketamine was associated with higher rates of clinical remission relative to comparator (saline or midazolam) at 24 h [OR 7.06, number needed to treat (NNT) = 5], 3 days (OR 3.86, NNT = 6), and 7 days (OR 4.00, NNT = 6), as well as higher rates of clinical response at 24 h (OR 9.10, NNT = 3), 3 days (OR 6.77, NNT = 3), and 7 days (OR 4.87, NNT = 4). A standardized mean difference of 0.90 in favor of ketamine was observed at 24 h based on depression rating scale scores, with group comparisons revealing greater efficacy in unipolar depression compared to bipolar depression (1.07 v. 0.68). Ketamine was associated with transient psychotomimetic effects, but no persistent psychosis or affective switches. CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis suggests that single administrations ketamine are efficacious in the rapid treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression. Additional research is required to determine optimal dosing schedules, route, treatment schedules, and the potential efficacy of other glutamatergic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- A McGirr
- Department of Psychiatry,University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC,Canada
| | - M T Berlim
- Neuromodulation Research Clinic,Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University,Montréal, Québec,Canada
| | - D J Bond
- Department of Psychiatry,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis, MN,USA
| | - M P Fleck
- Depressive Disorders Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University,Montréal, Québec,Canada
| | - L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry,University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC,Canada
| | - R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry,University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC,Canada
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Bücker J, Muralidharan K, Torres IJ, Su W, Kozicky J, Silveira LE, Bond DJ, Honer WG, Kauer-Sant'anna M, Lam RW, Yatham LN. Childhood maltreatment and corpus callosum volume in recently diagnosed patients with bipolar I disorder: data from the Systematic Treatment Optimization Program for Early Mania (STOP-EM). J Psychiatr Res 2014; 48:65-72. [PMID: 24183241 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Childhood trauma (CT) has been associated with abnormalities in the corpus callosum (CC). Decreased CC volumes have been reported in children and adolescents with trauma as well as adults with CT compared to healthy controls. CC morphology is potentially susceptible to the effects of Bipolar Disorder (BD) itself. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between CT and CC morphology in BD. We using magnetic resonance imaging in 53 adults with BD recently recovered from their first manic episode, with (n = 23) and without (n = 30) CT, defined using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and 16 healthy controls without trauma. ANCOVA was performed with age, gender and intracranial volume as covariates in order to evaluate group differences in CC volume. The total CC volume was found to be smaller in BD patients with trauma compared to BD patients without trauma (p < .05). The differences were more pronounced in the anterior region of the CC. There was a significant negative correlation between CTQ scores and total CC volume in BD patients with trauma (p = .01). We did not find significant differences in the CC volume of patients with/without trauma compared to the healthy subjects. Our sample consists of patients recovered from a first episode of mania and are early in the course of illness and reductions in CC volume may occur late in the course of BD. It might mean there may be two sources of CC volume reduction in these patients: the reduction due to trauma, and the further reduction due to the illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bücker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Bipolar Disorder Program and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, National Institute for Translational Medicine, INCT-TM, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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11
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Bücker J, Kozicky J, Torres IJ, Kauer-Sant'anna M, Silveira LE, Bond DJ, Lam RW, Yatham LN. The impact of childhood trauma on cognitive functioning in patients recently recovered from a first manic episode: data from the Systematic Treatment Optimization Program for Early Mania (STOP-EM). J Affect Disord 2013; 148:424-30. [PMID: 23246364 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 11/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both bipolar disorder (BD) and childhood trauma are associated with cognitive impairment. People with BD have high rates of childhood trauma, which confer greater overall disease severity, but, it is unknown if childhood trauma is associated with greater neurocognitive impairment in BD patients early in the course of their illnesses. In this study, we investigated the impact of childhood trauma on specific cognitive dysfunction in patients who recently recovered from their first episode of mania. METHODS Data were available for 64 patients and 28 healthy subjects matched by age, gender and pre-morbid IQ, recruited from a large university medical center. History of childhood trauma was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Cognitive function was assessed through a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. RESULTS Trauma was associated with poorer cognitive performance in patients on cognitive measures of IQ, auditory attention and verbal and working memory, and a different pattern was observed in healthy subjects. LIMITATIONS We had a modest sample size, particularly in the group of healthy subjects with trauma. CONCLUSIONS Childhood trauma was associated with poorer cognition in BD patients who recently recovered from a first episode of mania compared to healthy subjects. The results require replication, but suggest that the co-occurrence of trauma and bipolar disorder can affect those cognitive areas that are already more susceptible in patients with BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bücker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada BC V6T2A1
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12
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Torres IJ, DeFreitas CM, DeFreitas VG, Bond DJ, Kunz M, Honer WG, Lam RW, Yatham LN. Relationship between cognitive functioning and 6-month clinical and functional outcome in patients with first manic episode bipolar I disorder. Psychol Med 2011; 41:971-982. [PMID: 20810001 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291710001613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although cognitive deficits in bipolar disorder have been associated with diminished functional outcome, this relationship has been studied primarily through cross-sectional designs, and has not been studied in patients early in the course of illness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of cognitive functioning on longitudinal 6-month functional and clinical outcome in recently diagnosed clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder. METHOD A total of 53 recently diagnosed patients with DSM-IV bipolar disorder type I were assessed within 3 months of their first manic episode using a neuropsychological battery measuring verbal/pre-morbid intellectual functioning, learning/memory, spatial/non-verbal reasoning, attention/processing speed and executive function. Functional outcome was assessed at baseline and 6 months using the Multidimensional Scale of Independent Functioning (MSIF) and DSM-IV Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Clinical outcome was assessed with symptom ratings and by monitoring onset of new mood episodes. RESULTS Memory, particularly verbal learning/memory, was robustly associated with 6-month functional outcome on the MSIF, even after partialling out the influence of mood symptoms and substance abuse co-morbidity. Depression ratings at 6 months, but not cognitive variables, were associated with 6-month GAF scores. Cognitive functioning was not associated with 6-month clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS Memory was associated with 6-month longitudinal functional but not clinical outcome in recently diagnosed patients with bipolar disorder. These data further support the distinction between clinical and functional outcome, and emphasize the need for identification of, and development of treatments for, cognitive impairments early in the course of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- I J Torres
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although cognitive deficits are prominent in symptomatic patients with bipolar disorder, the extent and pattern of cognitive impairment in euthymic patients remain uncertain. METHOD Neuropsychological studies comparing euthymic bipolar patients and healthy controls were evaluated. Across studies, effect sizes reflecting patient-control differences in task performance were computed for the 15 most frequently studied cognitive measures in the literature. RESULTS Across the broad cognitive domains of attention/processing speed, episodic memory, and executive functioning, medium-to-large performance effect size differences were consistently observed between patients and controls, favoring the latter. Deficits were not observed on measures of vocabulary and premorbid IQ. CONCLUSION Meta-analytic findings provide evidence of a trait-related neuropsychological deficit in bipolar disorder involving attention/processing speed, memory, and executive function. Findings are discussed with regard to potential moderators, etiologic considerations, limitations, and future directions in neuropsychological research on bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- I J Torres
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the literature on the efficacy and safety of depot formulations of first- and second-generation antipsychotic medications (FGAs and SGAs) in patients with bipolar disorder. METHOD We conducted a computer-aided MEDLINE search using the search terms 'depot antipsychotic', 'bipolar disorder' and 'compliance.' RESULTS We identified eight published reports in bipolar patients regarding the use of depot FGAs, and six preliminary reports on the use of depot SGAs. These studies suggest that depots FGAs are efficacious in preventing manic episodes during the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Several studies, however, indicate that depot FGAs may be associated with increased time with depressive symptoms, particularly in patients with a predominantly depressive course of illness. Preliminary data on the role of depot formulations of SGAs suggest that they reduce the frequency of both manic and depressive episodes during maintenance treatment, and are well tolerated by patients. CONCLUSION After a careful risk-benefit analysis, depot antipsychotics may be considered for the long-term control of mood episodes in bipolar patients who have relapsed due to medication non-adherence or who have failed to respond to standard therapies. Depot FGAs should be avoided in patients with a high burden of illness from depressive symptoms and particularly in those judged to be at high risk of suicide. The available data on depot formulations of SGAs indicate that they are efficacious in the maintenance treatment of bipolar illness without increasing the burden of the depressive pole of the illness, but further systematic studies are required to definitively assess this.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Bond
- Mood Disorders Clinical Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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15
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Yatham LN, Fallu A, Binder CE. A 6-month randomized open-label comparison of continuation of oral atypical antipsychotic therapy or switch to long acting injectable risperidone in patients with bipolar disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2007:50-6. [PMID: 17688463 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01059.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and effectiveness of long-acting injectable risperidone (LAI-ris) add-on in bipolar patients. METHOD A 6-month, open-label, randomized, pilot trial enrolled 49 bipolar out-patients who were taking a mood stabilizer and an atypical antipsychotic (AAP). Patients were maintained on a mood stabilizer and were randomized to continuation of their current AAP or switched to LAI-ris treatment. Safety outcomes included adverse events and changes in vital signs, laboratory tests and extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Effectiveness measures included Clinical Global Impression-Severity, scales assessing mania, depression, anxiety, resource utilization, quality of life, subject satisfaction with treatment, and time to intervention. RESULTS Twenty-three subjects were randomized to LAI-ris and 26 to oral AAP. There were no significant differences between the groups in adverse events, EPS change scores, weight or other safety measures. LAI-ris group had significant reductions in symptoms as measured by changes in Clinical Global Impression-Severity scores and Young Mania Rating Scale at endpoint relative to baseline and oral AAP group had reductions in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores relative to baseline but no significant differences were noted between the groups on any of the efficacy measures. CONCLUSION LAI-ris demonstrated similar effectiveness, safety and tolerability compared to oral AAP in this 6 month pilot trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Mood Disorders Program, The University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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16
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the literature pertaining to the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in bipolar disorder research. METHOD A search for papers published in English in journals from 1984 onwards was conducted using MedLine and EMBASE with the following terms: functional neuroimaging or fMRI and depression or bipolar disorder. In addition, retrieved papers and literature known to the authors was also scrutinized for further relevant reports. RESULTS The research findings from 26 articles are tabulated and the results from 10 articles dealing specifically with bipolar disorder are discussed in detail. CONCLUSION fMRI is a useful tool for investigating bipolar disorder. Preliminary studies point to trait and state abnormalities involving structures known to be associated with the generation and modulation of emotion. The patterns of fMRI activation are different to those found in healthy subjects and patients with major depression. FMRI studies are likely to provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- G S Malhi
- School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Australia.
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Miller DS, Yatham LN, Lam RW. Comparative efficacy of typical and atypical antipsychotics as add-on therapy to mood stabilizers in the treatment of acute mania. J Clin Psychiatry 2001; 62:975-80. [PMID: 11780879 DOI: 10.4088/jcp.v62n1210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Typical antipsychotics are commonly used in combination with mood stabilizers for acute mania. Although typical antipsychotics are effective, they have undesirable side effects such as induction of depressive symptoms and tardive dyskinesia. Atypical antipsychotics have more favorable side effect profiles, and recent evidence shows their efficacy in treating mania. Apart from a previous small study that compared risperidone with typical neuroleptics as add-on therapy to mood stabilizers, no studies to date have directly compared atypical antipsychotics with typical antipsychotics as add-on therapy to mood stabilizers in a clinically relevant, naturalistic setting. METHOD This study is a chart review of all patients with DSM-IV-defined bipolar disorder, current episode mania (N = 204), admitted to the University of British Columbia Hospital during a 30-month period. Patients were separated into 3 groups according to the medications used: (1) mood stabilizer and typical antipsychotic, (2) mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotic, and (3) combination: mood stabilizer plus a typical antipsychotic, then switched to mood stabilizer plus risperidone or olanzapine within I week. The atypical group was further subdivided into risperidone and olanzapine subgroups. Outcome was measured using Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and -Improvement (CGI-I) ratings generated by review of clinical information in the chart. RESULTS Patients treated with typical antipsychotics were more severely ill at admission and at discharge than those treated with atypical antipsychotics. Patients in the atypical (p < .005) and combination (p < .05) groups showed significantly greater clinical improvement at discharge than patients treated with typical antipsychotics. This difference was also significant in the subset of patients with psychotic features (p < .03). Risperidone and olanzapine were associated with fewer extrapyramidal side effects than were typical antipsychotics (risperidone vs. typical antipsychotics, chi2 = 8.72, p < .01; olanzapine vs. typical antipsychotics, chi2 = 16.9, p < .001). CONCLUSION Due to their superior effectiveness and side effect profile when compared with typical antipsychotics. atypical antipsychotics are an excellent choice as add-on therapy to mood stabilizers for the treatment of patients with mania.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Lam RW, Tam EM, Grewal A, Yatham LN. Effects of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine-induced catecholamine depletion in patients with seasonal affective disorder in summer remission. Neuropsychopharmacology 2001; 25:S97-101. [PMID: 11682283 DOI: 10.1016/s0893-133x(01)00337-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Noradrenergic and dopaminergic mechanisms have been proposed for the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). We investigated the effects of catecholamine depletion using alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT), an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, in patients with SAD in natural summer remission. Nine drug-free patients with SAD by DSM-IV criteria, in summer remission for at least eight weeks, completed a double-blind, crossover study. Behavioral ratings and serum HVA and MHPG levels were obtained for 3-day sessions during which patients took AMPT or an active control drug, diphenhydramine. The active AMPT session significantly reduced serum levels of HVA and MHPG compared with the control diphenhydramine session. The AMPT session resulted in higher depression ratings with all nine patients having significant clinical relapse, compared with two patients during the diphenhydramine session. All patients returned to baseline scores after drug discontinuation. Catecholamine depletion results in significant clinical relapse in patients with SAD in the untreated, summer-remitted state. AMPT-induced depressive relapse may be a trait marker for SAD, and/or brain catecholamines may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of SAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Division of Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, and UBC Hospital, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD) paradigm induces depressive relapse in recently remitted patients with depression is unknown. AIMS To determine the effects of RTD on brain 5-HT(2) receptors using positron emission tomography (PET) and (18)F-labelled setoperone. METHOD Ten healthy women under went two PET scans. Each scan was done 5 h after the ingestion of either a balanced or a tryptophan-deficient amino acid mixture, and the two test sessions were separated by at least 5 days. RESULTS The RTD decreased plasma free tryptophan levels significantly but it had no significant effects on mood. Subjects showed a significant decrease in brain 5-HT(2) receptor binding in various cortical regions following the RTD session. CONCLUSIONS When taken with the evidence that antidepressant treatment is associated with a decrease in brain 5-HT(2) receptors, these findings suggest that a decrease in 5-HT(2) binding following RTD might be an adaptive response that provides protection against depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Division of Mood Disorders, The University of British Columbia, Canada.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE In DSM-IV, winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is classified as a seasonal pattern of recurrent major depressive episodes in winter with full remission of symptoms in summer. However, other groups with "winter depression" have been identified, including patients with incomplete summer remission (ISR) and subsyndromal SAD (sub-SAD, winter depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for major depression). In this study, we compare the clinical characteristics of these three seasonal groups and their response to light therapy. METHOD 558 patients assessed at a specialized SAD Clinic were diagnosed using DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria. Clinical information was recorded using a checklist at index assessment. A subset of patients (N=192) were treated with an open, 2 week trial of light therapy using a 10000 lux fluorescent light box for 30 min per day in the early morning. Patients were assessed before and after treatment with the 29 item modified Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and clinical response was defined as greater than 50% improvement in scores. RESULTS The rates of some melancholic symptoms, anxiety, panic, suicidal ideation, and family history of mood disorder were lowest in the sub-SAD group. The clinical response rates to light therapy were highest in the sub-SAD group (N=32, 78%), intermediate in the SAD group (N=113, 66%), and lowest in the ISR group (N=47, 51%). LIMITATIONS This was a retrospective study of patients seen in a specialty clinic, although information was obtained in a standardized format. The light therapy trial had an open design so that placebo response could not be determined. CONCLUSIONS There are differences in both the patterns of clinical symptoms and the response to light therapy in these three groups with winter depression. These results are consistent with a dual vulnerability hypothesis that considers these groups to result from interaction of separate factors for seasonality and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Division of Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, BC, Canada V6T 2A1.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) have dysfunctional eating behaviors. Conversely, many women with bulimia nervosa have marked winter worsening of mood and bulimic symptoms. Controlled studies of light therapy in SAD and in bulimia nervosa have shown beneficial effects on mood and binge/purge symptoms. We explored the clinical use of light therapy in women with SAD who also had comorbid bulimia nervosa. METHOD Twenty-two female patients diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria with both bulimia nervosa and major depressive disorder with a seasonal (winter) pattern were treated with an open design, 4-week trial of light therapy (10,000 lux fluorescent light box with an ultraviolet filter, 30 to 60 minutes per day in the early morning). Patients were assessed before and after treatment with depression scales and with binge/purge diaries. RESULTS Light therapy resulted in significant improvement in mood, with a mean 56% reduction in 29-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores following treatment (p < .001). The frequency of binges and purges per week also significantly decreased (p < .001) from baseline by a mean of 46% and 36%, respectively. Two (9%) of 22 patients became abstinent of binge/ purge episodes, compared with 10 (45%) of 22 patients who met criteria for remission of depressive symptoms. The light therapy was well tolerated by patients. CONCLUSION These results suggest that therapeutic effects of light therapy on mood and bulimic symptoms in patients with SAD and comorbid bulimia nervosa are sustained over at least 4 weeks. However, the low abstinence rate in bulimic symptoms indicates that light therapy may be most effectively used as an adjunctive treatment to medications and/or psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence that an activation of the immune-inflammatory system is involved in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. The purposes of this study were to (1) compare immune-inflammatory markers in patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with those in matched normal controls; and (2) examine the effects of light therapy on the immune-inflammatory markers in patients with SAD. METHODS Plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were measured in 15 patients with SAD and 15 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Of the 15 patients, 14 had repeated blood sampling for these variables following 2 weeks of light therapy. RESULTS We found that patients with SAD had significantly increased IL-6 levels compared to normal controls (P<0.0005). There was a trend toward increased sIL-2R in patients with SAD (P=0.09). There was no significant difference in sIL-6R level between the two diagnostic groups (P=0.18), but the product term (IL-6xsIL-6R) was significantly higher in patients with SAD than that in normal control controls (P<0.0003). Furthermore, all 14 patients who completed the study improved with 2 weeks of light therapy and nine of them (64%) had 50% reduction in score of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-SAD version post-treatment compared to baseline. However, the initially increased immune markers in SAD patients were not significantly altered by the therapeutic light therapy. LIMITATIONS This study was limited to a small sample size and other immune inflammatory markers should be measured for further evidence of immune activation in seasonal depression. CONCLUSIONS Our results of increased IL-6, IL-6xsIL-6R, and sIL-2R in patients with SAD suggest an activation of the immune-inflammatory system in winter depression, which is not altered by 2 weeks of successful light therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Leu
- Graduate Institute of Cell and Molecule Biology, Taipei Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Yatham LN, Steiner M, Liddle PF, Shiah IS, Lam RW, Zis AP, Coote M. A PET study of brain 5-HT2 receptors and their correlation with platelet 5-HT2 receptors in healthy humans. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2000; 151:424-7. [PMID: 11026749 DOI: 10.1007/s002130000522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Platelets share many properties with brain serotonergic neurons such as active 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transport, 5-HT2 receptors, and mitochondrial monoamine oxidase. OBJECTIVES We measured brain 5-HT2 receptors and platelet 5-HT2 receptors in healthy volunteers to determine if there was any correlation between the two measures. METHODS Ten healthy volunteers with no lifetime history of psychiatric illness or family history in first-degree relatives were recruited. 5-HT2 receptor binding was determined for each subject with positron emission tomography and [18F]setoperone scan in the brain and with 3H-LSD binding in platelets. RESULTS We found no significant correlation between 5-HT2 binding potential (BP) in platelets (Bmax/Kd) and a semiquantitative estimate of 5-HT2 BP in frontal, parietal, and temporal cortical regions. SPM voxel based analysis also showed no significant correlation between the 5-HT2 BP in platelets and in the brains of the study subjects. CONCLUSIONS Brain 5-HT2 receptor binding was not significantly correlated to platelet 3H-LSD binding in healthy subjects. This raises questions about the validity of generalizing findings from platelet studies to 5-HT neurons in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Division of Mood Disorders Clinical Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Yatham LN, Liddle PF, Shiah IS, Scarrow G, Lam RW, Adam MJ, Zis AP, Ruth TJ. Brain serotonin2 receptors in major depression: a positron emission tomography study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2000; 57:850-8. [PMID: 10986548 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.57.9.850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postmortem and brain imaging studies that measured brain serotinin(2) (5-HT(2)) receptors in major depression reported an increase, decrease, and no change compared with controls. In this study, we assessed brain 5-HT(2) receptors in 20 depressed patients (mean +/- SD age, 40.1 +/- 9.5 years; range, 22-60 years) and 20 healthy controls similar in age (37.2 +/- 12.6 years; range, 19-59 years) using positron emission tomography and setoperone labeled with fluorine 18 ([(18)F]setoperone). METHODS Patients with DSM-IV major depression and healthy controls underwent scanning with [(18)F]setoperone. All study subjects were drug free for at least 2 weeks. The 5-HT(2) binding images were created using region-to-cerebellum ratios. The differences in 5-HT(2) receptor binding potential between the two groups were determined with statistical parametric mapping software and region of interest analysis. RESULTS There was a significant negative correlation between 5-HT(2) receptor binding potential and age in both patients and controls, and the magnitude of this correlation was similar in both groups. Both statistical parametric mapping and region of interest analyses showed that, compared with healthy controls, depressed patients had significantly lower 5-HT(2) receptor binding potential in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions. Statistical parametric mapping analysis showed that the mean decrease in 5-HT(2) receptor binding potential for the entire cluster in these regions was 22%, and it ranged from 22% to 27% for local maxima within the clusters of significant voxels. CONCLUSION This study suggests that brain 5-HT(2) receptors are decreased in patients with major depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Mood Disorders Clinical Research Unit, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A1.
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Shiah IS, Yatham LN, Lam RW, Tam EM, Zis AP. Cortisol, hypothermic, and behavioral responses to ipsapirone in patients with bipolar depression and normal controls. Neuropsychobiology 2000; 38:6-12. [PMID: 9701716 DOI: 10.1159/000026510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To examine if 5-HT1A receptor function is involved in the pathophysiology of bipolar depression, we measured the cortisol, hypothermic and behavioral responses to ipsapirone, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, in 8 patients with bipolar depression and 26 normal controls. After obtaining blood samples for baseline cortisol levels and measuring baseline body temperature, a single dose of 0.3 mg/kg of ipsapirone was administered orally to all the subjects, and further blood and temperature readings were obtained every 30 min for 3 h. The results showed that the administration of ipsapirone led to a significant increase in cortisol release and a significant decrease in body temperature both in bipolar depressed patients and normal controls. There was no significant difference in the cortisol or hypothermic responses to ipsapirone between groups. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD) scores and the hypothermic response in the depressed patients, while the HAMD scores were not significantly correlated with the cortisol response. Comparing our findings with those of previous studies, we suggest that the alterations in 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity in depressed patients may be related to the severity of depression, and they may only occur in more severely depressed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Division of Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of divalproex sodium (DVP), an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer, on plasma gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in healthy humans. Twenty healthy volunteers with no lifetime history of psychiatric illness or family history in first-degree relatives were recruited. Each subject received DVP 1000 mg per day for 1 week. Blood samples for assay of plasma levels of GABA were taken from each subject before and after the administration of DVP. GABA concentrations were analysed using high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde. It was found that DVP administration for 1 week resulted in a small, but significant, increase in plasma levels of GABA. Our results suggest that DVP enhances GABA activity in humans. Further treatment studies of DVP on GABA function in patients with psychiatric disorders are needed to explore the significance of the enhancing effect of DVP on GABA activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
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Ngan ET, Yatham LN, Ruth TJ, Liddle PF. Decreased serotonin 2A receptor densities in neuroleptic-naive patients with schizophrenia: A PET study using [(18)F]setoperone. Am J Psychiatry 2000; 157:1016-8. [PMID: 10831488 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.6.1016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors compared serotonin receptor binding in patients with schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects. METHOD They used positron emission tomography with [(18)F]setoperone to examine six patients with schizophrenia who had never been given neuroleptics and seven age-matched subjects who did not have schizophrenia. RESULTS A nondirected voxel-based analysis of the subjects' entire search volume found that serotonin 2A binding potential in the frontal cortex index was significantly smaller (by 16.3%) in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS The authors conclude that the decrease in serotonin receptor densities previously reported in postmortem studies of subjects with schizophrenia are present at the onset of the illness, before exposure to neuroleptics.
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Affiliation(s)
- E T Ngan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Abstract
Animal studies have shown that a course of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) leads to a significant reduction in glucose metabolism in rat brains 1 day after the last ECS. In humans, of the two positron emission tomography (PET) studies that assessed the effects of a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on brain glucose metabolism in depressed patients, one reported no change while the other found a trend for reduction in glucose metabolism in frontal cortical region 24 hours after last ECT. The changes in glucose metabolism detected 24 hours after the last ECS/ECT treatment might simply be due to subacute effects of a seizure. We hypothesized that the changes in brain metabolism that persist 1 week after a course of ECT are more likely to underlie the therapeutic effects of ECT. We, therefore, investigated the effects of a course of ECT on brain glucose metabolism 1 week after last ECT by using PET and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Six patients who met DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (unipolar), and were referred for ECT as the clinically indicated treatment were recruited. They underwent two PET scans, one prior to first ECT and the second a week after last ECT. The number of ECT treatments subjects received ranged from 8 to 12 with a mean of 11. Five out of six patients responded to the ECT treatment. Cerebral metabolic rates for glucose were slightly lower in most regions post treatment compared with pretreatment but the differences were not statistically significant. Similarly, there was no significant correlation between changes in regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (rCMRglc) and changes in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 21-item) scores. Our results might suggest that rCMRglc rates are not altered 1 week after a therapeutic course of ECT in depressed patients. Further studies using new generation PET scanners, which have a higher resolution, in larger numbers of depressed patients, are clearly needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) was implicated in the pathophysiology of manic-depressive illness as early as 1958. Although extensive evidence has accumulated since then to support 5-HT's role in depression, relatively fewer studies examined its role in mania. The purpose of this paper was to review and summarize the current state of knowledge on the role of 5-HT in mania and its treatment. METHODS We systemically reviewed clinical studies of 1) 5-HT function in mania and 2) 5-HT in the mechanism of action of mood stabilizers, including lithium and anticonvulsants. RESULTS Review showed that cerebrospinal fluid, postmortem, platelet, neuroendocrine challenge, and tryptophan depletion studies provided some evidence to support the hypothesis that a 5-HT deficit is involved in mania and that enhancement of 5-HT neurotransmission exerts a mood-stabilizing effect. CONCLUSIONS There is some evidence from clinical studies for the contribution of 5-HT in mania and in the mechanism of action of mood stabilizers. However, it is very likely that other neurotransmitters also play important roles. Future directions for research include 1) in vivo study of 5-HT receptor subtypes using positron emission tomography, 2) investigation of the interaction between 5-HT and other neurotransmitter systems, and 3) determination of the relationships between diagnostic subtypes of mania and 5-HT function and other neurotransmitter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Shiah IS, Yatham LN, Srisurapanont M, Lam RW, Tam EM, Zis AP. Does the addition of pindolol accelerate the response to electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depression? A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2000; 20:373-8. [PMID: 10831027 DOI: 10.1097/00004714-200006000-00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence that addition of pindolol, a beta-adrenergic/5-hydroxytryptamine-1A antagonist, can accelerate the onset of action of antidepressant medications. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pindolol administration can induce a rapid improvement in depressive symptoms in patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within six ECT treatments. A total of 20 patients with DSM-IV-diagnosed major depression who were undergoing a course of ECT as the clinically indicated treatment were recruited. They were neuroleptic, lithium, and antidepressant free for at least 1 week before the study. Of the 20 patients, 9 patients had been randomly assigned to receive pindolol 2.5 mg three times daily, and 11 patients received identical placebo three times daily for the duration of the first 6 ECT treatments. One of 9 patients in the pindolol group and 4 of 11 patients in the placebo group dropped out of the study. Using an outcome measure of a score < or =12 on the 29-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the authors found that four (50%) of eight patients responded to the combination treatment of ECT and pindolol within six ECT treatments. In contrast, none (0%) of seven patients who received placebo responded to ECT treatment. Furthermore, both mean 29-item HAM-D and Clinical Global Impression Scale scores after the sixth ECT treatment were significantly lower in patients treated with pindolol compared with those treated with placebo. However, the number of total ECT treatments within a course or the overall efficacy of ECT treatment was not altered by the addition of pindolol. The results of this study suggest that within six ECT treatments, pindolol administration hastens antidepressant effects of ECT in some depressed patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Lam RW, Bowering TA, Tam EM, Grewal A, Yatham LN, Shiah IS, Zis AP. Effects of rapid tryptophan depletion in patients with seasonal affective disorder in natural summer remission. Psychol Med 2000; 30:79-87. [PMID: 10722178 DOI: 10.1017/s003329179900152x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonergic mechanisms have been proposed for the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the therapeutic effect of bright-light treatment. Previously, we showed that SAD patients, in clinical remission with light therapy during the winter, experienced transient depressive relapses after a rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD) technique, which results in decreased brain serotonin levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RTD in SAD patients who were in natural summer remission. METHODS Twelve drug-free patients with SAD by DSM-IV criteria and 10 normal subjects participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. SAD patients were in natural summer remission for at least 8 weeks. Behavioural ratings and plasma tryptophan levels were obtained before, and 5 h after, ingesting an amino acid (AA) mixture +/- tryptophan. Experimental RTD and control sessions were scheduled 1 week apart. RESULTS The RTD session resulted in significant reduction in total and free plasma tryptophan levels compared to the control session. The behavioural data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance. This analysis found significant main effects of time (higher scores after AA ingestion) and diagnosis (higher scores in SAD patients), but no main effect of session or significant interaction effects between the three factors. Thus, there were no significant behavioural effects of RTD compared to the sham depletion control session. CONCLUSIONS The summer remission experienced by SAD patients is not dependent on plasma tryptophan levels (and presumably brain serotonin function) in the same manner as that of remission after light therapy. These results conflict with those of other laboratories, perhaps because of differences in study samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent case reports suggest that some patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may become suicidal after initial treatment with light therapy. This retrospective study sought to determine the effects of light therapy on suicidal ideation in patients with SAD. METHOD The cases of 191 depressed patients with SAD by DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria treated with an open trial of morning light therapy using cool white fluorescent light boxes (2500 lux for 2 hours per day or 10,000 lux for 30 minutes per day) for 2 weeks were retrospectively analyzed. Patients had been rated before and after treatment with the expanded Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (SIGH-SAD). RESULTS Sixty-seven percent of patients were rated as clinical responders to light therapy. There was significant improvement in the SIGH-SAD suicide item score, with 45% of patients showing a reduction in score. Only 6 patients (3%) had slight worsening of suicide scores. No patients attempted suicide or discontinued light therapy because of emergent suicidality. CONCLUSION Light therapy relieves suicidal ideation in patients with SAD consistent with overall clinical improvement. Emergence of suicidal ideas or behaviors is very uncommon with light therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, and the University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
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Abstract
RATIONALE Growth hormone (GH) response to a challenge with a GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, is considered to provide an in vivo index of hypothalamic GABAB receptor function in humans. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to explore the role of GABAB receptors in the pathophysiology of mania by measuring plasma GH response to baclofen in ten manic patients and ten matched healthy controls. METHODS After obtaining blood samples for baseline GH levels, a single dose of 20 mg baclofen was administered orally to all the subjects, and further blood samples were obtained at 30-min intervals for the following 3 h. RESULTS We found that baclofen administration led to a significant increase in GH release both in manic patients and healthy controls, but the GH response to baclofen in manic patients was significantly enhanced when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that manic patients may have an up-regulated hypothalamic GABAB receptor function. However, in light of the limitations including small sample size and absence of placebo control, our results should be viewed as preliminary. Further studies with a larger number of manic patients and a placebo control design are needed to replicate our finding before any firm conclusion can be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Steiner M, Yatham LN, Coote M, Wilkins A, Lepage P. Serotonergic dysfunction in women with pure premenstrual dysphoric disorder: is the fenfluramine challenge test still relevant? Psychiatry Res 1999; 87:107-15. [PMID: 10579544 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The fenfluramine (FEN) neuroendocrine challenge paradigm, which involves measuring the response of prolactin (PRL) release to an oral challenge dose of FEN, provides a means of assessing serotonin (5-HT) function. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the role of 5-HT in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) by measuring: (1) PRL and cortisol (CORT) responses to FEN; and (2) platelet 3H-imipramine binding levels, in females with pure PMDD (without a past or present comorbid mood disorder) in comparison to healthy controls. FEN challenge tests were administered to nine female patients with pure PMDD and nine healthy female controls during the follicular and late luteal phases of a menstrual cycle. There were no differences in the PRL response to FEN for women with PMDD compared to healthy controls. However, the trend toward a delayed response to FEN and a significant negative correlation between delta(max) PRL and basal CORT in patients but not in controls during both phases of the menstrual cycle suggest an underlying 5-HT dysfunction in patients as compared to controls. This is further supported by the finding of significantly lower Bmax 3H-imipramine binding levels in the patients during the late luteal phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry, St. Josephs Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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Yatham LN, Liddle PF, Dennie J, Shiah IS, Adam MJ, Lane CJ, Lam RW, Ruth TJ. Decrease in brain serotonin 2 receptor binding in patients with major depression following desipramine treatment: a positron emission tomography study with fluorine-18-labeled setoperone. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999; 56:705-11. [PMID: 10435604 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.56.8.705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuroreceptor changes involved in therapeutic efficacy of various antidepressants remain unclear. Preclinical studies have shown that long-term administration of various antidepressants causes down-regulation of brain serotonin 2 (5-HT2) receptors in rodents, but it is unknown if similar changes occur following antidepressant treatment in depressed patients. Our purpose, therefore, was to assess the effects of treatment with desipramine hydrochloride on brain 5-HT2 receptors in depressed patients using positron emission tomography (PET) and fluorine-18 (18F)-labeled setoperone. METHODS Eleven patients who met DSM-IV criteria for major depression as determined by a structured clinical interview for DSM-III-R diagnosis and suitable for treatment with desipramine were recruited. Ten patients underwent a PET scan before and another after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment with desipramine. RESULTS Eight of the 10 patients responded to desipramine treatment as indicated by more than 50% decrease in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. Depressed patients showed a significant decrease in 5-HT2 receptor binding as measured by setoperone binding in frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions following desipramine treatment. The decrease in 5-HT2 receptor binding was observed bilaterally and was particularly prominent in frontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS Depressed patients showed a significant reduction in available 5-HT2 receptors in the brain following desipramine treatment, but it is unknown if this change in 5-HT2 receptors is due to clinical improvement or an effect of desipramine that is unrelated to clinical status.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Division of Mood Disorders, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist ipsapirone causes dose-dependent decrease in body temperature and increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol release in humans. These responses are attenuated by 5-HT1A receptor antagonists, suggesting that hypothermia, ACTH and cortisol release induced by ipsapirone are indeed mediated by 5-HT1A receptors and that these responses provide a valid index of 5-HT1A receptor function in humans. METHODS To examine the 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity in patients with mania, we studied six manic patients and six age and sex matched healthy controls. After obtaining a blood sample for baseline hormone levels and measuring body temperature, a single dose of 0.3 mg/kg of ipsapirone was given orally to all the subjects and further bloods and temperature reading were obtained every 30 minutes for 3 hours. RESULTS We found that ACTH and cortisol responses to ipsapirone were significantly increased in mania when compared to healthy controls, but there was no significant difference in hypothermic response to ipsapirone between the two groups. LIMITATIONS A lack of placebo control, heterogeneity of patients, and a small sample size are the limitations. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that manic patients may have enhanced postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity, but presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors are unaltered in this condition. Further placebo-controlled studies with a larger number of manic patients are needed to verify this.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Abstract
Previous studies suggest that light therapy, as used to treat seasonal affective disorder, may be beneficial for pre-menstrual depressive disorders. We conducted a six-menstrual cycle randomized, double-blind, counter-balanced, crossover study of dim vs. bright light therapy in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD). Fourteen women who met DSM-III-R criteria for LLPDD completed two menstrual cycles of prospective baseline monitoring of pre-menstrual symptoms, followed by two cycles of each treatment. During the 2-week luteal phase of each treatment cycle, patients were randomized to receive 30 min of evening light therapy using: (1) 10000 lx cool-white fluorescent light (active condition); or (2) 500 lx red fluorescent light (placebo condition), administered by a light box at their homes. After two menstrual cycles of treatment, patients were immediately crossed over to the other condition for another two cycles. Outcome measures were assessed at the mid-follicular and luteal phases of each cycle. Results showed that the active bright white light condition significantly reduced depression and pre-menstrual tension scores during the symptomatic luteal phase, compared to baseline, while the placebo dim red light condition did not. These results suggest that bright light therapy is an effective treatment for LLPDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Canada.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains one of the most effective biological treatments for major depression. However, there is little information on the clinical use of ECT, and most studies were conducted before the introduction of newer antidepressants and before improvements in ECT delivery. This study examined ECT use in a university teaching hospital to determine predictors of short-term ECT outcome. METHODS This was a retrospective chart review of ECT over the period 1994-1996. Data extracted from the chart included demographic information, clinical features of depression, and documented antidepressant trials. Outcome measures, based on the chart notes, included Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and cognitive side effects of ECT at 1 week post-ECT or at discharge if sooner. RESULTS Of 174 patients who received ECT, 130 had a diagnosis of unipolar major depressive disorder. Of these 130 patients, 92% were refractory to at least 1 antidepressant medication. After a clinical course of ECT, 87% were rated as "much" or "very much" improved on the CGI. Moderate side effects were noted in 16% of patients, while only 7% had marked side effects. Medication resistance was not related to ECT response. No significant clinical predictors (symptoms, chronicity, number of antidepressant trials) of ECT outcome were found on a stepwise multiple-regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS These results support previous studies showing that ECT results in very good short-term response in major depressive disorder and that the cognitive side effects of ECT are reasonable. Despite the limitations of this study (retrospective, chart review, global measures), the results will inform clinicians who are recommending ECT for their patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Paraphrenia is a disorder similar to paranoid schizophrenia but with better-preserved affect and rapport and much less personality deterioration. It is now diagnosed relatively infrequently and is not listed in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). However, it appears that some psychiatrists recognize the illness but label it "atypical psychosis," "schizoaffective disorder," or "delusional disorder" for lack of a better diagnostic category. Virtually no systematic research on paraphrenia has been conducted in the past 60 years. METHOD The authors distinguish paraphrenia from "late paraphrenia," a diagnosis used mainly in the United Kingdom, and provide a neo-Kraepelinian description of paraphrenia that would be compatible with the formats of DSM-IV and ICD-10. Using a questionnaire adapted from this description, intake cases in 2 Canadian psychiatric centres (Ottawa [Ontario] and Dartmouth [Nova Scotia]) were surveyed. Cases of paraphrenia were distinguished from those of schizophrenia and delusional disorder and were examined at the time of intake and immediately prior to discharge. RESULTS For logistical reasons, collecting a totally consecutive series was not possible. However, during an 18-month period, investigators in both centres identified 33 cases closely fitting paraphrenia. The outstanding features of these cases are enumerated, and an outline description of paraphrenia is derived. CONCLUSION It is possible to define and recognize paraphrenia; it is a viable diagnostic entity. Further research would benefit paraphrenia and schizophrenia patients. Cases in this study have been coded to permit follow-up investigations.
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Shiah IS, Robertson HA, Lam RW, Yatham LN, Tam EM, Zis AP. Growth hormone response to baclofen in patients with seasonal affective disorder: effects of light therapy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1999; 24:143-53. [PMID: 10101723 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00066-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) dysfunction in the pathophysiology and treatment response of patients with major depression, but this has not been studied in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Growth hormone (GH) response to a challenge with a GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, is considered an in vivo index of hypothalamic GABAB receptor function in humans. To explore the role of GABAB receptor function in SAD, we compared the GH response to baclofen challenge in 15 patients with SAD and 20 matched healthy controls. Of the 15 patients with SAD, 14 had repeat baclofen challenge following 2-week treatment with light therapy. The results showed that baclofen administration led to a significant increase in GH release both in patients with SAD and normal controls. There was no significant difference in the GH response to baclofen between the two groups. Furthermore, 2-week treatment with light therapy did not significantly alter the baclofen-induced GH response in patients with SAD, in spite of a clear therapeutic effect. The results of this study suggest that hypothalamic GABAB receptor function, as measured by baclofen induced GH release, is not altered in patients with SAD or by light therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract
Over the past twenty years, several lines of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies has accumulated suggesting that a GABA deficit may be involved in mood disorders, particularly in depression, and that increasing GABAergic neurotransmission may exert an antidepressant effect and perhaps a mood stabilizing effect. Given that GABA has an inhibitory effect on biogenic amine neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin and this inhibition may be involved in local circuits and interneurons, it has been suggested that the hypothesis of a GABA deficit in mood disorders does not compete with but complements the well-established hypotheses of alterations in noradrenergic and serotonergic function in mood disorders. In this paper, we systematically reviewed the results from preclinical and clinical studies of GABA function in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and in the mechanism of action of mood stabilizers, antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy. We also discussed the unifying theory of the neurochemistry of mood disorders, which integrates the GABA hypothesis into the biogenic amine hypotheses, and indicated future directions for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Lamotrigine, a new anticonvulsant, has recently been reported to be effective in treating patients with bipolar mania, depression, and schizoaffective disorder, suggesting that it is perhaps a mood stabilizer with antimanic and antidepressant properties. However, the mechanism of action underlying its efficacy in mood disorders is still unknown. METHODS To explore the role of 5-HT1A receptors in the mechanism of action of lamotrigine, we measured the body temperature and plasma cortisol responses to a challenge with a selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist ipsapirone in ten healthy human males. Each subject received 0.3 mg/kg of ipsapirone hydrochloride tablets at time "0". Body temperature readings and blood samples for cortisol levels were obtained at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 min. The ipsapirone challenge tests were repeated after 1 week treatment with lamotrigine (100 mg/day). RESULTS Treatment with lamotrigine for 1 week did not significantly alter the hypothermic or cortisol responses to ipsapirone. LIMITATIONS The limitations of this study included small sample size, low treatment dose, short treatment interval, and lack of placebo control. CONCLUSIONS Our findings might suggest that 5-HT1A receptor function is not involved in the mechanism of action of lamotrigine in humans. Further placebo-controlled studies with a higher lamotrigine dose and a longer treatment interval in a larger number of subjects are needed to verify this.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract
The effect of divalproex sodium (DVP) on gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) receptor function in humans was assessed by measuring growth hormone (GH) responses to a challenge with a GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, in 10 male healthy volunteers. Each subject received 20 mg of baclofen at 10:00 A.M., and blood samples were collected for measuring GH before and 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 min after baclofen administration. The baclofen challenge test was repeated after 1 week of treatment with DVP (1000 mg/day). The results showed that the plasma GH response to baclofen was significantly attenuated by the DVP treatment and that the degree of attenuation was positively correlated with the blood levels of valproic acid. Our findings suggest that DVP downregulates hypothalamic GABAB receptor function in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Vik A, Yatham LN. Calcitonin and bipolar disorder: a hypothesis revisited. J Psychiatry Neurosci 1998; 23:109-17. [PMID: 9549251 PMCID: PMC1188909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Double-blind trials conducted in the early 1980s showed that subcutaneous injections of salmon calcitonin in patients suffering from mania resulted in significant decreases in irritability, euphoria and hyperactivity. Although these results were promising, there were no follow-up studies in this area. A MEDLINE search into the effect of calcitonin on neuronal tissues revealed that calcitonin affects neuronal tissues in a manner similar to that of the currently accepted mood-stabilizing agents--namely by modulating intracellular second messenger signalling mechanisms, stabilizing neuronal membranes and inhibiting neuronal calcium influx. We suggest that these effects of calcitonin on neuronal tissues, combined with earlier clinical research showing its efficacy in treating the acute symptoms of mania, make calcitonin a candidate for further research in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Victoria
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Shiah IS, Yatham LN, Lam RW, Zis AP. Effects of divalproex sodium on 5-HT1A receptor function in healthy human males: hypothermic, hormonal, and behavioral responses to ipsapirone. Neuropsychopharmacology 1997; 17:382-90. [PMID: 9397426 DOI: 10.1016/s0893-133x(97)00087-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Hypothermic and hormonal responses to a challenge with a selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist ipsapirone are considered to provide an index of 5-HT1A receptor function in humans. To examine the effects of divalproex sodium (DVP) on 5-HT1A receptor function in humans, we measured the hypothermic, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) cortisol, and behavioral responses to ipsapirone in 10 healthy male volunteers. After obtaining a blood sample for baseline hormone levels and measuring body temperature, a single dose of 0.3 mg/kg of ipsapirone was given orally to all the subjects and further bloods and temperature reading were obtained at regular intervals for three hours. The ipsapirone challenge tests were repeated after the subjects had been treated with DVP (1000 mg/day) for one week. The results showed that the hypothermia induced by ipsapirone was significantly attenuated by the DVP treatment, whereas the ACTH/cortisol release and the behavioral responses following ipsapirone challenges were not altered. Our findings suggest that DVP may enhance 5-HT neurotransmission in humans via a subsensitization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors but does not appear to affect postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Shiah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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47
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Abstract
Although unipolar depression and bipolar depression are considered distinct entities both by clinicians and researchers, it is not clear whether a pathophysiological distinction, which is the bridge between etiology and treatment, exists between these two conditions. The objective of this paper was to systematically review the studies that examined the biological differences between unipolar and bipolar depression. Using computerized Medline and manual searches, we located and reviewed studies that directly compared patients with unipolar depression with bipolar depressed patients on at least one biological variable. The results showed that patients with bipolar depression had lower levels of urinary NE and its metabolites and lower platelet MAO activity, and higher platelet free and stimulated intracellular calcium levels compared with unipolar depressed patients, but none of the variables examined appeared to differentiate the two groups consistently. We discuss some of the methodological flaws that might have contributed to this, and suggest that further studies should control for such confounding variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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48
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess serotonergic function in patients with major depression or mania using sumatriptan, a novel 5-HT1D receptor agonist, as a pharmacological probe in a neuroendocrine challenge paradigm. We studied 18 drug free patients (10 with acute unipolar major depression and 8 with acute mania) who met DSM-IV criteria, and healthy controls. Subjects presented for testing after an overnight fast. After obtaining a blood sample for baseline growth hormone (GH) levels, sumatriptan (6 mg) was given subcutaneously, and further blood samples were collected at half hour intervals for 2 hours. The results showed that GH responses to sumatriptan were blunted in depressed patients but not in manics, compared to healthy controls. There were no differences in basal GH levels between the 3 groups. The results of this study provide further support for the role of serotonergic system in pathophysiology of major depression, but not in mania.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Yatham
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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49
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Both late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) and seasonal affective disorder are cyclical disorders often manifested by "atypical" depressive features. The goal of this study was to determine whether patients with LLPDD demonstrate substantial seasonal variation in symptoms. METHOD Consecutive female patients attending a subspecialty clinic in a university teaching hospital were assessed by means of DSM-III-R criteria. All subjects completed the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire, modified to include items on the seasonality of premenstrual symptoms. The results were compared with those of a group of female nonclinical subjects (N = 50). RESULTS One hundred patients met the DSM-III-R criteria for LLPDD. Compared to the nonclinical group, the LLPDD patients had a significantly higher mean global seasonality score (an index of seasonality of mood and vegetative symptoms) and a significantly higher rate of seasonal affective disorder (38% versus 8%) as determined by Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire criteria. Twenty-five percent of the LLPDD group rated their seasonal variation in premenstrual symptoms as marked or severe, while 30% considered seasonal changes in overall symptoms to be a marked or severe problem. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that patients with LLPDD have substantial seasonal patterns in mood and premenstrual symptoms. These seasonal patterns have implications for the clinical assessment and treatment of LLPDD. For example, light therapy may be beneficial for women with seasonal worsening of LLPDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Maskall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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50
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Abstract
Bipolar depressed patients (n = 22) who were refractory to treatment with a combination of divalproex sodium (DVP) and another mood stabilizer or DVP and an antidepressant for 6 weeks were treated in an open naturalistic study with an addition of lamotrigine to DVP. Sixteen out of 22 (72%) responded by the end of week 4 and none developed rash or switched to mania. The results of this preliminary study suggest that lamotrigine may be useful in bipolar depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Kusumakar
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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