Articles

More robust evidence for the efficacy of lithium in the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder: should lithium (again) be recommended as the single preferred first-line treatment?

With two recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the efficacy of lithium compared to placebo and other treatment options, it can now be concluded that lithium is the only drug that has been shown effica...

Authors: Willem A Nolen

Prophylactic lithium treatment and cognitive performance in patients with a long history of bipolar illness: no simple answers in complex disease-treatment interplay

Cognitive impairment in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is not restricted to symptomatic phases. It is also present in euthymia. There is evidence of differences in the brain’s structure between bipolar pa...

Authors: Andrea Pfennig, Martin Alda, Trevor Young, Glenda MacQueen, Janusz Rybakowski, Aleksandra Suwalska, Christian Simhandl, Barbara König, Tomas Hajek, Claire O’Donovan, Dirk Wittekind, Susanne von Quillfeldt, Jana Ploch, Cathrin Sauer and Michael Bauer

Lithium for prevention of mood episodes in bipolar disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

In a previous meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing lithium with placebo as a long-term treatment in bipolar disorders, we observed a clear preventative effect for manic episodes; however, th...

Authors: Emanuel Severus, Matthew J Taylor, Cathrin Sauer, Andrea Pfennig, Philipp Ritter, Michael Bauer and John R Geddes

Lithium as add-on to quetiapine XR in adult patients with acute mania: a 6-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Quetiapine extended release (XR) and lithium are treatments with proven efficacy in acute mania. This randomized study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lithium or placebo as add-on to quetiapine XR in adul...

Authors: Michel S Bourin, Emanuel Severus, Juan P Schronen, Peter Gass, Johan Szamosi, Hans Eriksson and Hongally Chandrashekar

Every reason to discontinue lithium

Lithium as a gold standard therapy for bipolar disorder is well known to have a number of medical comorbidities that impact renal, parathyroid, and thyroid function. Despite these medical comorbidities, there ...

Authors: Manuel E Fuentes Salgado, Bruce Sutor, Robert C Albright and Mark A Frye

Compliance as a stable function in the treatment course of bipolar disorder in patients stabilized on olanzapine: results from a 24-month observational study

Compliance is a key factor in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. This noninterventional study was conducted to explore factors associated with higher levels of compliance in bipolar patients, all t...

Authors: Alexandra Kutzelnigg, Martin Kopeinig, Chih-Ken Chen, Ágnes Fábián, María Gloria Pujol-Luna, Young-chul Shin, Tamás Treuer, Yulia D'yachkova, Claudia Deix, Siegfried Kasper and Dagmar Doby

Are rates of pediatric bipolar disorder increasing? Results from a nationwide register study

Studies from the USA suggest that rates of pediatric bipolar disorder have increased since the mid-90s, but no study outside the USA has been published on the rates of pediatric bipolar disorder. Further, it i...

Authors: Lars Vedel Kessing, Eleni Vradi and Per Kragh Andersen

Mood dynamics in bipolar disorder

The nature of mood variation in bipolar disorder has been the subject of relatively little research because detailed time series data has been difficult to obtain until recently. However some papers have addre...

Authors: Paul J Moore, Max A Little, Patrick E McSharry, Guy M Goodwin and John R Geddes

Letter to the editor: is it valid to break down results from long-term trials in bipolar disorder by polarity of relapses?

When analysing and reporting data from long-term drug trials in bipolar disorder, it has become the standard to break down the outcome into the prevention of mania and the prevention of depression. However, as...

Authors: Rasmus Wentzer Licht and Emanuel Severus

Mood regulation in bipolar disorders viewed through the pendulum dynamics concept

Bipolar disorders have been characterized by powerful fluctuations of energy, mood, and thinking patterns. Mood episodes (manic or depressive) could be considered as deviations of a psycho-physiological index ...

Authors: Elias Koutsoukos and Elias Angelopoulos

Lateral hypothalamic kindling induces manic-like behavior in rats: a novel animal model

The lateral hypothalamus integrates critical physiological functions such as the sleep-wake cycle, energy expenditure, and sexual behaviors. These functions are severely dysregulated during mania. In this stud...

Authors: Osama A Abulseoud, Ulas M Camsari, Christina L Ruby, Khalid Mohamed, Noha M Abdel Gawad, Aimen Kasasbeh, Mehmet Y Yüksel and Doo-Sup Choi

Are renal tumors associated with lithium treatment?

Authors: Ross J Baldessarini and Leonardo Tondo

Circadian biomarkers in patients with bipolar disorder: promising putative predictors of lithium response

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, severe mental disorder with a high recurrence rate. Lithium (Li) is the cornerstone of BD treatments to reduce recurrence, suicide, and mortality risks. However, only 30% of ...

Authors: Pierre Alexis Geoffroy, Bruno Etain, Sarah Sportiche and Frank Bellivier

Immunological and neurotrophic markers of risk status and illness development in high-risk youth: understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a highly heritable illness that onsets in adolescence and young adulthood. We examined gene expression (mRNA) and protein levels of candidate immune and neurotrophic markers in well-charact...

Authors: Anne Duffy, Julie Horrocks, Sarah Doucette, Charles Keown-Stoneman, Paul Grof, Ana Andreazza and L Trevor Young

The impact of treatment decisions on the diagnosis of bipolar disorders

Authors: Emanuel Severus and Michael Bauer

Impulsivity: present during euthymia in bipolar disorder? - a systematic review

Because impulsivity is part of the presentation of bipolar disorder (BD) and is associated with its course, this systematic review presents the evidence whether increased impulsivity is present in a stable, eu...

Authors: Antonia L Newman and Thomas D Meyer

Using theatre to address mental illness stigma: a knowledge translation study in bipolar disorder

Reduction of the stigma of mental illness is an international priority; arts- and contact-based approaches represent a promising mode of intervention. This project was designed to explore the impact of a one-w...

Authors: Erin E Michalak, James D Livingston, Victoria Maxwell, Rachelle Hole, Lisa D Hawke and Sagar V Parikh

Quantitative leukocyte BDNF promoter methylation analysis in bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex psychiatric phenotype with a high heritability and a multifactorial etiology. Multisite collaborative efforts using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified onl...

Authors: John S Strauss, Tarang Khare, Vincenzo De Luca, Richie Jeremian, James L Kennedy, John B Vincent and Arturas Petronis

Behavioral addictions in euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder: a comparison to controls

Bipolar disorder may be associated with a hypersensitive behavioral approach system and therefore to increased reward sensitivity. The objective of this study is to explore the interrelationships between bipol...

Authors: Ran Sapir, Ada H Zohar, Yuly Bersudsky, RH Belmaker and Yamima Osher

Antidepressant dosage taken by patients with bipolar disorder: factors associated with irregularity

This study analyzed regularity in the daily dosage of antidepressants taken by patients with bipolar disorder and identified the factors associated with irregularity.

Authors: Rita Bauer, Tasha Glenn, Martin Alda, Kemal Sagduyu, Wendy Marsh, Paul Grof, Rodrigo Munoz, Greg Murray, Philipp Ritter, Ute Lewitzka, Emanuel Severus, Peter C Whybrow and Michael Bauer

Occurrence of bipolar spectrum disorder and comorbidities in women with eating disorders

Eating disorder (ED) patients often have comorbidities with other psychiatric disorders, especially with mood disorders. Although recent studies suggest an intimate relationship between ED and bipolar disorder...

Authors: Rodolfo Nunes Campos, Rodrigues Domingos dos Santos Junior, Táki Athanássios Cordás, Jules Angst and Ricardo Alberto Moreno

Nutrition, Exercise, and Wellness Treatment in bipolar disorder: proof of concept for a consolidated intervention

This pilot study examines the proof of concept of a consolidated Nutrition, Exercise, and Wellness Treatment (NEW Tx) for overweight individuals with bipolar disorder.

Authors: Louisa G Sylvia, Stephanie Salcedo, Emily E Bernstein, Ji Hyun Baek, Andrew A Nierenberg and Thilo Deckersbach

Distress and disability in young adults presenting to clinical services with mood disorders

Distress and/or dysfunction are well established as key reasons for help-seeking. We explore the characteristics of groups defined by high or low distress or disability in young people with unipolar depression...

Authors: Elizabeth M Scott, Daniel F Hermens, Sharon L Naismith, Adam J Guastella, Django White, Bradley G Whitwell, Jim Lagopoulos, Jan Scott and Ian B Hickie

Searching the internet for health information about bipolar disorder: some cautionary issues

Adults routinely use the Internet as a source of health information. Patients with bipolar disorder and caregivers should be encouraged to increase their knowledge of this complex illness, including through th...

Authors: Scott Monteith, Tasha Glenn and Michael Bauer

Evaluating depressive symptoms in hypomanic and manic episodes using a structured diagnostic tool: validation of a new Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) module for the DSM-5 'With Mixed Features’ specifier

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), includes a new 'With Mixed Features’ specifier for mood episodes. In (hypo-)manic episodes, the specifier is given if three or ...

Authors: Thierry Hergueta and Emmanuelle Weiller

Transitions: Athanasios Koukopoulos [AθανάσιΟς κΟυκόπΟυλΟς], M.D. (1931–2013)

Authors: Daniela Reginaldi, Alexia Koukopoulos, Ross J Baldessarini, Gianni L Faedda, Giuseppe Fazzari, Paolo Girardi, Giorgio Kotzalidis, Giovanni Manfredi, Gian Paolo Minnai, Isabella Pacchiarotti, Michele Raja, Gabriele Sani, Gino Serra, Leonardo Tondo and Eduard Vieta

Glial-specific gene alterations associated with manic behaviors

Glial dysfunction has been purported to be important to the pathophysiology of bipolar illness. However, manic behavior has not been previously demonstrated to result as a consequence of glial pathology. The a...

Authors: Yonglin Gao, Malhar Jhaveri, Zhenmin Lei, Brandy L Chaneb, Jerry Lingrel and Rif S El-Mallakh

The common bipolar phenotype in young people

Mood elevation is common in adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of a bipolar diagnosis and co-morbidity in individuals identified by online screening for exper...

Authors: Philippa L Rock, Rebecca A Chandler, Catherine J Harmer, Robert D Rogers and Guy M Goodwin

Hypercalcemia in patients with bipolar disorder treated with lithium: a cross-sectional study

Lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism (LIH) is a relative underrecognized complication of long-term lithium treatment. Hypercalcemia may be the first, but often overlooked, sign of LIH. Symptoms of LIH can be si...

Authors: Bas A Twigt, Bernard M Houweling, Menno R Vriens, Eline J Regeer, Ralph W Kupka, Inne HM Borel Rinkes and Gerlof D Valk

Sleep quality during euthymia in bipolar disorder: the role of clinical features, personality traits, and stressful life events

Poor sleep quality is known to precede the onset of mood episodes and to be associated with poor treatment outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD). We sought to identify modifiable factors that correlate with poor s...

Authors: Erika FH Saunders, Danielle M Novick, Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, Masoud Kamali, Kelly A Ryan, Scott A Langenecker, Alan J Gelenberg and Melvin G McInnis

Bipolar disorder with comorbid anxiety disorders: impact of comorbidity on treatment outcome in cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoeducation

Comorbid anxiety disorders are extremely prevalent in bipolar disorder (BD) and have substantial impact on the course of illness. Limited evidence regarding treatment factors has led to a renewal of research e...

Authors: Lisa D Hawke, Vytas Velyvis and Sagar V Parikh

Diagnosing bipolar disorders in DSM-5

Authors: Emanuel Severus and Michael Bauer

Bipolar disorders in DSM-5: strengths, problems and perspectives

The diagnostic classification of mood disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) had two major shortcomings: an underdiagnosis of bipolar disorders and a large proportion o...

Authors: Jules Angst

Impulsivity, anxiety, and alcohol misuse in bipolar disorder comorbid with eating disorders

Eating disorders (ED) are noted to occur with bipolar disorder (BD), but relationships between additional comorbidities, clinical correlates, and personality factors common to both remain largely unknown.

Authors: Andrew Jen, Erika FH Saunders, Rollyn M Ornstein, Masoud Kamali and Melvin G McInnis

Stability of lithium treatment in bipolar disorder - long-term follow-up of 346 patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and stability of long-term lithium treatment in a prospective, international, multicenter cohort of bipolar patients in a naturalistic setting.

Authors: Anne Berghöfer, Martin Alda, Mazda Adli, Christopher Baethge, Michael Bauer, Tom Bschor, Paul Grof, Bruno Müller-Oerlinghausen, Janusz K Rybakowski, Alexandra Suwalska and Andrea Pfennig

Quetiapine monotherapy in bipolar II depression: combined data from four large, randomized studies

Despite being present in up to 1% of the population, few controlled trials have examined the efficacy of treatments for bipolar II depression. Pooled data are presented from four placebo-controlled studies (BO...

Authors: Allan H Young, Joseph R Calabrese, Urban Gustafsson, Michael Berk, Susan L McElroy, Michael E Thase, Trisha Suppes and Willie Earley

Bipolar disorder and socioeconomic status: what is the nature of this relationship?

In psychiatric literature stretching over a century, there have been glaring discrepancies in the findings describing the relationship between bipolar disorder (BD) and socioeconomic status (SES). Early studie...

Authors: Laeticia Eid, Katrina Heim, Sarah Doucette, Shannon McCloskey, Anne Duffy and Paul Grof

The association of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) gene polymorphism with kidney function in long-term lithium-treated bipolar patients

Most bipolar patients experience a reduction in urinary concentrating ability within a few weeks of starting lithium treatment. This phenomenon may be connected with the effect of lithium on the glycogen synth...

Authors: Janusz K Rybakowski, Maria Abramowicz, Aleksandra Szczepankiewicz, Michal Michalak, Joanna Hauser and Stanislaw Czekalski

Do current screening recommendations allow for early detection of lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism in patients with bipolar disorder?

Current screening recommendations for early detection of lithium-associated hyperparathyroidism propose an exclusive measurement of serum albumin-adjusted calcium (Aac) concentration as a single first step. Ho...

Authors: Michael Berger, Michael Riedel, Nora Tomova, Michael Obermeier, Florian Seemüller, Sandra Dittmann, Hans-Jürgen Moeller and Emanuel Severus

Biological rhythm disturbance in remitted bipolar patients

Biological rhythm disturbance is common in bipolar patients and seems to affect the course and prognosis of the illness negatively. The main aim of the current study was to assess biological rhythms in remitte...

Authors: Adriane R Rosa, Mercè Comes, Carla Torrent, Brisa Solè, Maria Reinares, Isabella Pachiarotti, Manel Salamero, Flávio Kapczinski, Francesc Colom and Eduard Vieta

Drug treatment patterns in bipolar disorder: analysis of long-term self-reported data

The objective of this study is to investigate drug treatment patterns in bipolar disorder using daily data from patients who received treatment as usual.

Authors: Michael Bauer, Tasha Glenn, Martin Alda, Kemal Sagduyu, Wendy Marsh, Paul Grof, Rodrigo Munoz, Emanuel Severus, Philipp Ritter and Peter C Whybrow

Aripiprazole as augmentation therapy in bipolar patients with current minor or subsyndromal mood symptoms

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of aripiprazole augmentation of maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder in patients with minor or subsyndromal mood episodes while on a stable dose of a mood st...

Authors: Isaac Schweitzer, Jerome Sarris, Virginia Tuckwell, Kay Maguire, Deidre Smith and Chee Ng

Cortical thinning in young psychosis and bipolar patients correlate with common neurocognitive deficits

People in midlife with established psychosis or bipolar disorder exhibit patterns of cortical thinning across several brain regions. It is unclear whether these patterns are indicative of a continuously active...

Authors: Sean N Hatton, Jim Lagopoulos, Daniel F Hermens, Elizabeth Scott, Ian B Hickie and Maxwell R Bennett

European Network of Bipolar Research Expert Centre (ENBREC): a network to foster research and promote innovative care

Bipolar disorders rank as one of the most disabling illnesses in working age adults worldwide. Despite this, the quality of care offered to patients with this disorder is suboptimal, largely due to limitations...

Authors: Chantal Henry, Ole A Andreassen, Angelo Barbato, Jacques Demotes-Mainard, Guy Goodwin, Marion Leboyer, Eduard Vieta, Willem A Nolen, Lars Vedel Kessing, Jan Scott and Michael Bauer

Editorial: a new journal in bipolar disorders

Authors: Michael Bauer