The course of bipolar disorder in pregnant versus non-pregnant women

Abstract Background and rationale Although it has been suggested that pregnancy may influence the course of bipolar disorder (BD), studies show contradictory results. Until now, no studies included a finegrained validated method to report mood symptoms on a daily basis, such as the lifechart method (LCM). The aim of the present study is to investigate the course of BD during pregnancy by comparing LCM scores of pregnant and non-pregnant women. Methods Study design: Comparison of LCM scores of two prospective observational BD cohort studies, a cohort of pregnant women (n = 34) and a cohort of non-pregnant women of childbearing age (n = 52). Main study parameters are: (1) proportions of symptomatic and non-symptomatic days; (2) symptom severity, frequency, and duration of episodes; (3) state sequences, longitudinal variation of symptom severity scores. Results No differences in clinical course variables (symptomatic days, average severity scores, frequency, and duration of episodes in BD were found between pregnant and non-pregnant women. With a combination of State Sequence Analysis (SSA) and cluster analysis on the sequences of daily mood scores three comparable clusters were found in both samples: euthymic, moderately ill and severely ill. The distribution differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women were significant, with a majority of the pregnant women (68%) belonging to the moderately ill cluster and a majority of the non-pregnant women (46%) to the euthymic cluster. In pregnant women the average daily variation in mood symptoms as assessed with Shannon’s entropy was less than in non-pregnant women (respectively 0.43 versus 0.56). Conclusions Although the use of daily mood scores revealed no difference in overall course of BD in pregnant versus non-pregnant women, more pregnant than non-pregnant women belonged to the moderately ill cluster, and during pregnancy the variation in mood state was less than in non-pregnant women. Further research is necessary to clarify these findings.

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Age-Related Differences in Medication Adherence, Symptoms, and Stigma in Poorly Adherent Adults With Bipolar Disorder

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.1177/0891988719874116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 250-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stephen Smilowitz ◽

Awais Aftab ◽

Michelle Aebi ◽

Jennifer Levin ◽

Curtis Tatsuoka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Medication Adherence ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Significant Finding ◽

Internalized Stigma ◽

Age Related ◽

Severity Scores ◽

Over Time

Objective: We present a secondary analysis of data reporting differences in medication adherence, psychiatric symptom severity, and internalized stigma levels in older (age ≥ 55 years) versus younger (age < 55 years) adults with bipolar disorder (BD) and poor medication adherence. Methods: Data used for this analysis came from 184 participants in a National Institute of Mental Health–funded randomized controlled trial, comparing a customized adherence enhancement (CAE) intervention intended to promote BD medication adherence with a BD-specific educational program (EDU). At screen, study participants were ≥20% nonadherent with BD medications as measured by the Tablets Routine Questionnaire (TRQ). Psychiatric symptoms, functional status, and internalized stigma were measured using validated scales. Results: Older adults had significantly lower anxiety disorder comorbidity ( P < .01 for 1 or more anxiety disorders), depressive symptom severity scores ( P = .011), and self-stigma scores ( P = .001) compared to their younger counterparts. In the analyses evaluating change over time in TRQ between older and younger participants by treatment arm (ie, CAE and EDU), there was a significant finding of interaction between time, age-group, and treatment arm ( P = .007). Conclusions: Older adults may be less anxious and depressed, with less self-stigma, compared to younger people with BD and poor adherence. With respect to medication adherence, older individuals in EDU appear to do less well than younger individuals over time.

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Impulsivity in adolescent bipolar disorder

Acta Neuropsychiatrica ◽

10.1111/j.1601-5215.2011.00522.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 57-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kirsten E. Gilbert ◽

Jessica H. Kalmar ◽

Fay Y. Womer ◽

Philip J. Markovich ◽

Brian Pittman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Mood State ◽

The Self ◽

Self Report ◽

Rapid Cycling ◽

Mood Symptoms ◽

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale ◽

Course Features ◽

Report Measure ◽

Motor Subscale

Objective: Increased impulsivity has been shown to be a trait feature of adults with bipolar disorder (BD), yet impulsivity has received little study in adolescents with BD. Thus, it is unknown whether it is a trait feature that is present early in the course of the disorder. We tested the hypotheses that self-reported impulsiveness is increased in adolescents with BD, and that it is present during euthymia, supporting impulsiveness as an early trait feature of the disorder.Methods: Impulsiveness was assessed in 23 adolescents with BD and 23 healthy comparison (HC) adolescents using the self-report measure of impulsivity, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), comprised by attentional, motor and non-planning subscale scores. Effects of subscale scores and associations of scores with mood state and course features were explored.Results: Total and subscale BIS scores were significantly higher in adolescents with BD than HC adolescents. Total, attentional and motor subscale BIS scores were also significantly higher in the subset of adolescents with BD who were euthymic, compared to HC adolescents. Adolescents with BD with rapid-cycling and chronic mood symptoms had significantly higher total and motor subscale BIS scores than adolescents with BD without these course features.Conclusion: These results suggest increased self-reported impulsiveness is a trait feature of adolescents with BD. Elevated impulsivity may be especially prominent in adolescents with rapid-cycling and chronic symptoms.

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Rapid Cycling in Children

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900026390 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (S2) ◽

pp. 5-6

Author(s):

Kiki D. Chang

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Mood State ◽

Rapid Cycling ◽

Mixed States ◽

Clinical Interviews ◽

Mood Symptoms ◽

Younger Age ◽

The Difference ◽

Bipolar Patients

Presence of rapid cycling appears to be the rule rather that the exception in children with bipolar disorder, although there is not much data to support this clinical notion. Geller and colleagues studied 93 pediatric patients with bipolar disorder, mean age 10.9 years. They found that 87% had rapid cycling defined as ≥4 episodes/year and 77% had ultradian cycling, defined as >365 episodes/year. In addition, Findling and colleagues studied 90 bipolar patients with a mean age of 10.8 years and found that 50% had rapid cycling by veteran CV criteria. (The study did not look at ultra-rapid or ultradian cycling.) Finally, using clinical interviews to study children with affective illness, Schraufnagel and colleagues found that 41% experienced >365 cycles/year (Slide 6).It is difficult to figure out the difference between a cycle and an episode when children are cycling so quickly. Tillman and Geller proposed that any kind of mood switching constitutes a cycle. An episode, they proposed, is defined as having ≥2 weeks of mood symptoms with either onset and offset of one mood state within that 2 weeks, or onset and offset of a period of ultra-rapid or ultradian cycling. It appears that with younger age comes more rapid cycling and more mixed states, which can be confused with ultra-rapid cycling. In turn, the older the child gets, the less rapid cycling occurs, and the more episodic the disorder becomes with more euphoria and less irritability. However, this tendency has not been well studied.

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An episode of giddy, irritable mood with increased energy and goal-directed activity

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ◽

10.1093/med/9780197577479.003.0008 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 63-70

Author(s):

Joshua R. Smith

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Mood State ◽

Risky Behaviors ◽

Mood Symptoms ◽

Second Generation Antipsychotics ◽

Major Depressive Episodes ◽

Depressive Episodes ◽

Increased Activity ◽

Relapse Rates ◽

Irritable Mood

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania or hypomania and major depressive episodes. The diagnostic criteria for mania require the presence of distinct periods of abnormal mood characterized by euphoria, expansiveness, or irritability. The change in mood is accompanied by increased activity or energy as well as other symptoms such as grandiosity, decreased sleep, increased speech, flight of ideas, distractibility, agitation, and increased involvement in risky behaviors. The assessment of bipolar disorder should include a detailed psychiatric history ascertaining the presence of current or previous mood symptoms. Children and adolescents are more likely to present with either rapidly fluctuating or a mixed mood state. Bipolar disorder is associated with high relapse rates, even among those receiving treatment. The first-line medication class is second-generation antipsychotics. Additional psychosocial treatments such as psychoeducation, psychotherapy, and community engagement can also be helpful.

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Identifying psychosocial determinants related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy: a systematic literature review

10.31234/osf.io/awkdz ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Sylvia Roozen ◽

Gjalt - Jorn Ygram Peters ◽

Gerjo Kok ◽

Leopold Curfs

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Childbearing Age ◽

Psychosocial Determinants ◽

Maternal Alcohol ◽

Maternal Alcohol Consumption

BackgroundFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an important global health problem in need of prevention. For FASD prevention it is important to understand why pregnant women engage or do not engage in drinking alcohol. It remains unknown which psychosocial determinants related to maternal alcohol consumption are most in need of prevention. The objective of this study was to identify these.MethodWe searched in PubMed, PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, ERIC, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE databases up to May 2018 using an extensive query consisting of keywords related to pregnancy (e.g., maternal, prenatal), alcohol use (e.g., alcohol, drink) and determinants (e.g., attitude, norm). Studies were excluded when not published in English, were reviews, or involved non-human subjects. Substantial heterogeneity precluded aggregation or meta-analysis of the data. Instead, data were qualitatively inspected.ResultsA total of 23 studies including 150 identified items were eligible for data analysis. Studies covered over 15 psychosocial determinants (e.g., attitude, perceived social norm, risk perception). Studies differed in their operationalizations. As a majority of data was based on univariate analysis, little is known about the relationship with specific drinking behaviors. The majority of studies targeted perceived risk and motivation to comply with each social referents' approval or disapproval. A large proportion of studies focused on disadvantages and risks of maternal alcohol consumption. Results from these studies show that women do not continue to drink because the risks are unknown to them. Cautious interpretation is needed while the observed heterogeneity hindered firm conclusions. Conclusion We aimed to identify all relevant psychosocial determinants of maternal alcohol consumption behavior(s). The state of the literature precludes such conclusions. It remains unknown which determinants are most in need of intervention. It is recommended for future studies to (i) identify all possible psychosocial determinants of drinking during pregnancy using both quantitative and qualitative methods; (ii) include different target groups (e.g., women with unplanned pregnancies, pregnant women, women in childbearing age); (iii) identify key environmental agents; (iv) operationalize their measures based on theoretical models; (v) report specific variables such as the study method and association with behavior.

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Deficits in explicit emotion regulation in bipolar disorder: a systematic review

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders ◽

10.1186/s40345-021-00221-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marcel Kurtz ◽

Pia Mohring ◽

Katharina Förster ◽

Michael Bauer ◽

Philipp Kanske

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Mood State ◽

Bipolar Disorders ◽

Protective Measure ◽

Behavioral Measures ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

Depressive Episodes

Abstract Background This study aimed to compile and synthesize studies investigating explicit emotion regulation in patients with bipolar disorder and individuals at risk of developing bipolar disorder. The importance of explicit emotion regulation arises from its potential role as a marker for bipolar disorders in individuals at risk and its potent role in therapy for bipolar disorder patients. Methods To obtain an exhaustive compilation of studies dealing specifically with explicit emotion regulation in bipolar disorder, we conducted a systematic literature search in four databases. In the 15 studies we included in our review, the emotion-regulation strategies maintenance, distraction, and reappraisal (self-focused and situation-focused) were investigated partly on a purely behavioral level and partly in conjunction with neural measures. The samples used in the identified studies included individuals at increased risk of bipolar disorder, patients with current affective episodes, and patients with euthymic mood state. Results In summary, the reviewed studies' results indicate impairments in explicit emotion regulation in individuals at risk for bipolar disorder, patients with manic and depressive episodes, and euthymic patients. These deficits manifest in subjective behavioral measures as well as in neural aberrations. Further, our review reveals a discrepancy between behavioral and neural findings regarding explicit emotion regulation in individuals at risk for bipolar disorders and euthymic patients. While these groups often do not differ significantly in behavioral measures from healthy and low-risk individuals, neural differences are mainly found in frontostriatal networks. Conclusion We conclude that these neural aberrations are a potentially sensitive measure of the probability of occurrence and recurrence of symptoms of bipolar disorders and that strengthening this frontostriatal route is a potentially protective measure for individuals at risk and patients who have bipolar disorders.

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AEROBIC EXERCISE VOLUME, NOT PRESCRIPTION, INFLUENCES POST-CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967121s00048 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽

pp. 2325967121S0014

Author(s):

David R. Howell ◽

Danielle Hunt ◽

Stacey E. Aaron ◽

William P. Meehan ◽

Can Ozan Tan

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Exercise Prescription ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Care Group ◽

Initial Symptom ◽

Initial Visit ◽

Severity Scores ◽

Text Figure

Background: Current recommendations for sport-related concussion uniformly emphasize the importance of physical activity. However, specifics of this recommendation remain vague and do not account for an exercise dosage or compliance. Purposes: First, we examined if an 8-week individualized sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise prescription, initiated within the first two weeks of concussion, alleviates symptom severity or affects the amount of exercise performed during the study. Second, we examined whether prescription adherence, rather than randomized group assignment, reflects the actual impact of aerobic exercise in post-concussion recovery. Methods: For this single-site prospective randomized clinical trial, participants completed an aerobic exercise test within 14 days of injury, and were randomized to an individualized aerobic exercise program or standard-of-care, and returned for assessments 1 month and 2 months after the initial visit (Table 1). The aerobic exercise group was instructed to exercise 5 days/week, 20 minutes/day, at a target heart rate based on an exercise test at the initial visit. Participants reported their symptom exercise volume each week over the 8-week study period, and reported symptoms at each study visit (initial, 1 month, 2 month). Results: Initial symptom severity was not different between randomized groups (Figure 1A), and no significant differences in symptom severity were found at the 4-week (Figure 1B) or 8-week (Figure 1C) assessment. In addition, there was no significant differences between groups for average weekly exercise volume during the first four weeks (Figure 2A) or second four weeks (Figure 2B) of the study. During the first four weeks of the study, 65% (n=11/17) of the exercise intervention participants were compliant with their exercise recommendation (≥100 min/week), compared to 45% (n=9/20) of the standard-of-care group (p=0.33). During the second four weeks of the study, 71% (n=12/17) of the exercise prescription group exercised ≥100 min/week, compared to 55% (n=11/20) of the standard-of-care group (p=0.50). When grouped by exercise volume, the group who exercised ≥100 minutes/week during the first month of the study reported significantly lower symptom severity scores than those who exercised <100 minutes/week (Figure 3B), despite similar initial symptom severity scores (Figure 3A). Conclusion: Participant randomization within 14 days of concussion did not lead to a significant reduction in symptoms, or greater exercise volume. Given that greater exercise volume was associated with lower symptoms after one month of the study, researchers and clinicians should pay particular attention to adherence to aerobic exercise programs for the treatment of concussion. [Table: see text][Figure: see text][Figure: see text][Figure: see text]

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Is it time to administer acellular pertussis vaccine to childbearing age/pregnant women in all areas using whole-cell pertussis vaccination schedule?

Therapeutic Advances in Vaccines and Immunotherapy ◽

10.1177/25151355211015842 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 251513552110158

Author(s):

Abdoulreza Esteghamati ◽

Shirin Sayyahfar ◽

Yousef Alimohamadi ◽

Sarvenaz Salahi ◽

Mahmood Faramarzi

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Age Groups ◽

Vaccination Schedule ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Childbearing Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Whole Cell ◽

Childbearing Age Women ◽

The Mean

Background: Whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine administration is still advocated for children under 7 years of age in Iran. However, there is no recommendation for the administration of a dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine to childbearing age/pregnant women in the Iranian vaccination program and it has increased the risk of infection through waning immunity during women’s childbearing age life. The study aimed to assess the levels of anti- Bordetella pertussis antibodies in childbearing age women of different ages in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total number of 360 childbearing age women divided into six age groups, with 5-year intervals from 15 to 45 years old, in 2018–2019. Then, the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against B. pertussis were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 16.0) (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.01 ± 8.35 years (range 14–45 years). All the cases were IgM negative, but two IgA-positive individuals (in the age groups of 14–19 and 30–34 years) were reported. Overall, 239 (66.4%) cases were IgG positive. The mean age of IgG-positive cases was 30.37 ± 8.37 years. The IgG-positive cases were mostly in the age groups of 30–34 and 35–39 years [43 (71.1%)]. The odds of IgG positivity were 1.97. The highest odds of IgG positivity were seen in 30–34 and 35–39 years groups (2.52) and the lowest odds were seen in the 20–24 and 25–29 years groups (1.60). Using the Jonckheere–Terpstra test, the increasing trend of IgG changes in different age groups was not statistically significant (Tπ=5.78, p = 0.09). Conclusion: The infants of women of childbearing age might be prone to pertussis in countries using the wP vaccination schedule. It is suggested to administer a dose of Tdap to women before or during pregnancy to increase the immunity of their infants against this disease during early infancy.

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Evaluation of Thyroid Function in Pregnant Women Using Automated Immunoassays

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/hvab009 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

K Aaron Geno ◽

Matthew S Reed ◽

Mark A Cervinski ◽

Robert D Nerenz

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Equilibrium Dialysis ◽

Reference Interval ◽

First Trimester ◽

Reference Intervals ◽

Free Thyroxine ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Childbearing Age ◽

Thyroid Autoantibody ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction Automated free thyroxine (FT4) immunoassays are widely available, but professional guidelines discourage their use in pregnant women due to theoretical under-recoveries attributed to increased thyroid hormone binding capacity and instead advocate the use of total T4 (TT4) or free thyroxine index (FTI). The impact of this recommendation on the classification of thyroid status in apparently euthyroid pregnant patients was evaluated. Methods After excluding specimens with thyroid autoantibody concentrations above reference limits, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), FT4, TT4, and T-uptake were measured on the Roche Cobas® platform in remnant clinical specimens from at least 147 nonpregnant women of childbearing age and pregnant women at each trimester. Split-sample comparisons of FT4 as measured by the Cobas and equilibrium dialysis were performed. Results FT4 decreased with advancing gestational age by both immunoassay and equilibrium dialysis. TSH declined during the first trimester, remained constant in the second, and increased throughout the third, peaking just before delivery. Interpretation of TT4 concentrations using 1.5-times the nonpregnant reference interval classified 13.6% of first trimester specimens below the lower reference limit despite TSH concentrations within trimester-specific reference intervals. Five FTI results from 480 pregnant individuals (about 1.0%) fell outside the manufacturer’s reference interval. Conclusions Indirect FT4 immunoassay results interpreted in the context of trimester-specific reference intervals provide a practical and viable alternative to TT4 or FTI. Declining FT4 and increasing TSH concentrations near term suggest that declining FT4 is not an analytical artifact but represents a true physiological change in preparation for labor and delivery.

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