Bipolar Affective Disorder (bipolar + affective_disorder)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Bipolar affective disorder in a male with a deletion of Y chromosome , a case report

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 3 2005
Marcin Olajossy
We report on a 25-year-old male with bipolar disorder, dysmorphic features and a deletion of the long arm of Y chromosome. A potential association between sex chromosome abnormalities and a susceptibility to major psychiatric disorders has been documented. However there have been very few reports on the coincidence of Y chromosome aberrations with bipolar disorder. Cytogenetic studies have contributed to the identification of several disease genes. Karyotyping of patients with bipolar disorder in order to identify candidate regions for linkage studies has been recommended. [source]


Age at onset in bipolar affective disorders: a review

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 2 2005
Marion Leboyer
Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) is a multifactorial disorder with various clinical presentations. Etiologic heterogeneity may partly underlie the phenotypic heterogeneity. Efforts to dissect BPAD have been based on the course of the disorders (BP I versus BP II or rapid cycling), cormorbidity pattern (panic attacks, suicide attempts, addiction or hyperactivity), differences between the sexes, and clinical pattern (cycloid and puerperal psychosis). The present article provides a comprehensive review of the existing data, showing that age at onset (AAO) identifies homogeneous sub-groups of patients with BPAD. Recent work has demonstrated the existence of three , early, intermediate and late , onset bipolar sub-groups based on AAO, following Kendell's criteria for validity (The American Journal of Psychiatry 2003; 160: 999). We will also show how these distinctions may be of use in the search for genetic vulnerability factors and other pathogenic influences. Following Kendell's criteria, we show that AAO of bipolar disorders has been tested with most of the available strategies for establishing the validity of clinical syndromes. We also present data from genetic epidemiologic studies in bipolar disorder, showing that AAO sub-groups may reduce the underlying genetic heterogeneity. No accurate AAO thresholds to define valid sub-groups have been identified precisely. Until recently, studies defined early- and late-onset as corresponding to early or mid-adulthood, not taking into account juvenile-onset bipolar disorder. A recently proposed theoretical model with three AAO sub-groups (onset age 17, 27 and 46) is discussed. [source]


Lateralization of hand skill in bipolar affective disorder

GENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 8 2007
J. Savitz
Diverse strands of evidence suggest that schizophrenia is associated with an excess of left and mixed handedness, reflecting anomalous cerebral lateralization. Genetic studies have indicated a degree of overlap between bipolar disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia. Nevertheless, pattern of handedness and degree of lateralization have not been explicitly tested in BPD. We measured handedness, footedness and relative manual dexterity in a sample of 47 families comprising BPD probands and their bipolar-spectrum and unaffected relatives (N = 240). The BPD I sample (N = 55) was significantly more lateralized on handedness, footedness and relative manual dexterity than their unaffected relatives (N = 66). They were also more lateralized than their relatives with other psychiatric diagnoses. No evidence of excess mixed handedness or footedness was observed in the BPD I sample. We raise the possibility that schizophrenia and BPD I differ in that disproportionate left-hemisphere dominance in BPD I is associated with right-hemisphere dysfunction leading to deficits in emotional regulation. Given our results, we hypothesized that degree of lateralization may be a phenotypic marker or endophenotype for BPD I. We therefore conducted a family-based genetic association analysis with this quantitative trait. Relative hand skill was significantly associated with a functional variant in the catechol- O -methyltransferase gene. We speculate that this polymorphism may influence brain lateralization. [source]


Psychotherapeutic case conceptualization using plan analysis for bipolar affective disorder,

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Ueli Kramer
Abstract Valid individualized case conceptualization methodologies, such as plan analysis, are rarely used for the psychotherapeutic treatment conceptualization and planning of bipolar affective disorder (BD), even if data do exist showing that psychotherapy interventions might be enhanced by applying such analyses for treatment planning for several groups of patients. We applied plan analysis as a research tool (Caspar, 1995) to N=30 inpatients presenting BD, who were interviewed twice. Our study aimed at producing a prototypical plan structure encompassing the most relevant data from the 30 individual case conceptualizations. Special focus was given to links with emotions and coping plans. Inter-rater reliability of these plan analyses was considered sufficient. Results suggest the presence of two subtypes based on plananalytic principles: emotion control and relationship control, along with a mixed form. These subtypes are discussed with regard to inherent plananalytic conflicts, specific emotions and coping plans, as well as symptom level and type. Finally, conclusions are drawn for enhancing psychotherapeutic practice with BD patients, based on the motive-oriented therapeutic relationship. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65: 1,16, 2009. [source]


Association study between two variants in the DOPA decarboxylase gene in bipolar and unipolar affective disorder,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 5 2002
Esther Jahnes
Abstract Irregularities of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission have been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), also known as aromatic L -amino acid decarboxylase, is an enzyme involved directly in the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin and indirectly in the synthesis of noradrenaline. Therefore, the DDC gene can be considered as a candidate gene for affective disorders. Recently, two novel variants were reported in the DDC gene: a 1-bp deletion in the promoter and a 4-bp deletion in the untranslated exon 1. Subsequently, an association case,control study including 112 English patients and 80 Danish patients with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) revealed a significant association with the 1-bp deletion. This finding prompted us to analyze whether this effect was also present in a larger and ethnically homogeneous sample of 228 unrelated German patients with BPAD (208 patients with BP I disorder, 20 patients with BP II disorder), 183 unrelated patients with unipolar affective disorder (UPAD), and 234 healthy control subjects. For both BPAD and UPAD we could not detect a genetic association with either variant. Thus, our results do not support an involvement of the 1-bp or 4-bp deletion within the DDC gene in the etiology of affective disorders. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Caught in the trio trap?

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 4 2001
Potential selection bias inherent to association studies usings parent-offspring trios
Abstract During the last years, the validity of classic case control studies in psychiatric genetic research has been increasingly under question due to the risk of population stratification problems inherent to this type of association study. By consequence, the application of family-based association studies using parent-offspring trios has been strongly advocated. Recently, however, in a study comparing clinical characteristics between index patients from parent-offspring trios and singleton patients with bipolar affective disorder, the question was raised whether a systematic neglect of case control association studies could lead to a selection bias of susceptibility genes. In a similar approach, we compared demographic and clinical characteristics of 122 singleton bipolar patients with those of 54 bipolar patients derived from parent-offspring trios. The singleton patients did not only present with a higher age of onset, but also with a higher frequency of suicidal behavior and a higher familial loading for suicidality. These findings suggest that the genetic mechanism for disease might be different between trio-based and classic case control samples, where patients are examined whose parents are not available for genetic studies. Thus, giving up case control designs for the sake of family-based association studies could be at the risk of selecting against several genetically determined factors. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Management of bipolar affective disorder during pregnancy

PROGRESS IN NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, Issue 7 2008
Caroline Meiser-Stedman MRCPsych
In Pregnancy is a series of reviews focusing on the management of women with psychiatric and neurological conditions during pregnancy. In this article, Dr Meiser-Stedman and Dr Curtis discuss the risks associated with pregnancy in women with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) and the issues that need to be considered regarding the management of BPAD before and during pregnancy as well as immediately after the birth. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd [source]


Mania as the first manifestation of Wilson's disease

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 3 2008
Alexandre Costa Machado
Background:, Although mental changes are frequent in Wilson's disease, severe psychiatric disorders occur uncommonly and usually accompany the neurological picture. There are few reports in the literature of Wilson's disease patients with typical bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Case report:, The authors report the case of a patient with Wilson's disease whose initial manifestation was a manic episode followed by depression. Tremor in the upper limbs appeared one year after the onset of symptoms. The diagnosis of Wilson's disease was established three years after the first symptoms appeared, based on the neuropsychiatric picture, the detection of Kayser,Fleischer rings and the results of diagnostic tests indicating chronic liver disease and copper excess. ATP7B genotyping and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with proton spectroscopy study were also performed. The patient became asymptomatic two years after starting treatment with penicillamine and remained non-symptomatic controlled during the eight-year follow-up period, without any specific treatment for the BPAD. Conclusions:, To our knowledge, this is a singular report of a case of Wilson's disease in which a manic episode preceded the onset of neurological symptoms. The association between Wilson's disease and bipolar disorder is discussed. [source]


Association study of 5,-UTR polymorphisms of the human dopamine transporter gene with manic depression

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 5p1 2006
Gerald Stöber
Objectives:, To determine the degree of association of five single nucleotide polymorphisms at the 5,-untranslated region (5,-UTR) of the human dopamine transporter gene (hSLC6A3; hDAT1) in bipolar affective disorder. Methods:, In a case,control design study, the polymorphisms were genotyped for allelic and genotypic distribution between 105 index cases (50 males) with bipolar affective disorder according to DSM IV and 199 unaffected control subjects (120 males). Results:, At the 5,-UTR locus of hSLC6A3, no significant allelic or genotypic differences were observed between index cases and controls. However, distinct 5-locus genotypes accumulated in subjects with bipolar affective disorder compared to control subjects (p = 0.029, odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.12,3.02). Conclusions:, In conclusion, our data do not provide evidence for a major role of the 5,-UTR of the dopamine transporter gene in bipolar affective disorder. A minor contribution of distinct genotypes may be possible and warrants replication in extended samples. [source]


Personality: is it a viable endophenotype for genetic studies of bipolar affective disorder?

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 4 2006
Jonathan B Savitz
Progress in identifying the genetic basis of bipolar affective disorder has been disappointing, most probably because of the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of the condition. These setbacks have led to the adoption of alternative strategies such as the use of endophenotypes or intermediate traits to identify those individuals at genetic risk for developing the disorder. Gottesman and Gould [Am J Psychiatry (2003), 160:636], in a review of the endophenotypic concept, have suggested five criteria that should be characteristic of a trait in order for it to qualify as an endophenotype. These five criteria are used in order to assess the viability of using personality traits as endophenotypes for genetic analyses of bipolar disorder. A review of the literature suggests that certain personality traits or temperaments are associated with the illness in a state independent manner, that personality is at least partly heritable, and that various temperaments aggregate in the non-affected relatives of bipolar probands. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether specific personality traits co-segregate with affectively ill individuals. We conclude that personality profiling of probands and their relatives may facilitate molecular genetic work, but given the fact that personality is itself a complex trait, its use as an endophenotype has certain limitations. [source]


Neuropsychological dysfunction in bipolar affective disorder: a critical opinion

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 3 2005
Jonathan Savitz
Data from the imaging literature have led to suggestions that permanent structural brain changes may be associated with bipolar disorder. Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder display deficits on a range of neuropsychological tasks in both the acute and euthymic phases of illness, and correlations between experienced number of affective episodes and task performance are commonly reported. These findings have renewed interest in the neuropsychological profile of individuals with bipolar disorder, with deficits of attention, learning and memory, and executive function, asserted to be present. This paper critically reviews five different potential causes of neurocognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder: (i) iatrogenic, (ii) acute functional changes associated with depression or mania, (iii) permanent structural lesions of a neurodegenerative origin, (iv) permanent structural lesions that are neurodevelopmental in origin, and (v) permanent functional changes that are most likely genetic in origin. Although the potential cognitive effects of residual symptomatology and long-term medication use cannot be entirely excluded, we conclude that functional changes associated with genetically driven population variation in critical neural networks underpin both the neurocognitive and affective symptoms of bipolar disorder. The philosophical implications of this conclusion for neuropsychology are briefly discussed. [source]


Thyrotoxicosis after complete or partial lithium withdrawal in two patients with bipolar affective disorder

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 5 2003
CD Carmaciu
Objectives: To highlight and discuss thyrotoxicosis after lithium withdrawal as a potential complication of lithium therapy for bipolar disorder. Case Reports: Both patients presented developed thyrotoxicosis, the first patient after stopping the lithium completely, and the second patient after a reduction in the lithium dose. Conclusions: Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of thyrotoxicosis emerging when lithium is being completely or partially withdrawn. Such withdrawal could unmask a latent hyperthyroidism. [source]


The neuropsychology and neuroanatomy of bipolar affective disorder: a critical review

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 3 2001
Carrie E Bearden
Objectives: To present a comprehensive review of the existing neuropsychological and neuroimaging literature on bipolar affective disorder. This review critically evaluates two common conceptions regarding the neuropsychology of bipolar disorder: 1) that, in contrast to schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder is not associated with general cognitive impairment independent of illness episodes, and 2) relative right hemisphere (RH) dysfunction is implicated in bipolar illness patients, supported by reports of relatively greater impairment in visuospatial functioning, lateralization abnormalities, and mania secondary to RH lesions. Methods: The major computerized databases (Medline and PSYCInfo) were consulted in order to conduct a comprehensive, integrated review of the literature on the neuropsychology and neuroanatomy of bipolar disorder. Articles meeting specified criteria were included in this review. Results: In a critical evaluation of the above notions, this paper determines that: 1) while there is little evidence for selective RH dysfunction, significant cognitive impairment may be present in bipolar illness, particularly in a subgroup of chronic, elderly or multiple-episode patients, suggesting a possible toxic disease process, and 2) the underlying functional correlate of these cognitive deficits may be white matter lesions (,signal hyperintensities') in the frontal lobes and basal ganglia, regions critical for executive function, attention, speeded information processing, learning and memory, and affect regulation. While this hypothesized neural correlate of cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder is speculative, preliminary functional neuroimaging evidence supports the notion of frontal and subcortical hypometabolism in bipolar illness. Conclusions: The etiology of the structural brain abnormalities commonly seen in bipolar illness, and their corresponding functional deficits, remains unknown. It is possible that neurodevelopmental anomalies may play a role, and it remains to be determined whether there is also some pathophysiological progression that occurs with repeated illness episodes. More research is needed on first-episode patients, relatives of bipolar probands, and within prospective longitudinal paradigms in order to isolate disease-specific impairments and genetic markers of neurocognitive function in bipolar disorder. [source]


Trace amine-associated receptors and their ligands

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 8 2006
R Zucchi
Classical biogenic amines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin and histamine) interact with specific families of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The term ,trace amines' is used when referring to p- tyramine, ,-phenylethylamine, tryptamine and octopamine, compounds that are present in mammalian tissues at very low (nanomolar) concentrations. The pharmacological effects of trace amines are usually attributed to their interference with the aminergic pathways, but in 2001 a new gene was identified, that codes for a GPCR responding to p- tyramine and ,-phenylethylamine but not to classical biogenic amines. Several closely related genes were subsequently identified and designated as the trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs). Pharmacological investigations in vitro show that many TAAR subtypes may not respond to p- tyramine, ,-phenylethylamine, tryptamine or octopamine, suggesting the existence of additional endogenous ligands. A novel endogenous thyroid hormone derivative, 3-iodothyronamine, has been found to interact with TAAR1 and possibly other TAAR subtypes. In vivo, micromolar concentrations of 3-iodothyronamine determine functional effects which are opposite to those produced on a longer time scale by thyroid hormones, including reduction in body temperature and decrease in cardiac contractility. Expression of all TAAR subtypes except TAAR1 has been reported in mouse olfactory epithelium, and several volatile amines were shown to interact with specific TAAR subtypes. In addition, there is evidence that TAAR1 is targeted by amphetamines and other psychotropic agents, while genetic linkage studies show a significant association between the TAAR gene family locus and susceptibility to schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder. British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 967,978. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706948 [source]


Abnormal dose-response melatonin suppression by light in bipolar type I patients compared with healthy adult subjects

ACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 5 2009
Karen T. Hallam
Objective: Among potential endophenotypes proposed for bipolar affective disorder focusing on circadian abnormalities associated with the illness has particularly high face validity. Melatonin sensitivity to light is one circadian endophenotype proposed as useful in bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate melatonin sensitivity to light over a range of light intensities in order to compare and contrast responses in bipolar I patients with those of healthy adult volunteers. Methods: The study included seven patients (4 females, 3 males) with bipolar I disorder and 34 control participants (22 females, 12 males) with no personal or family history of affective illness. Melatonin sensitivity to light was determined in all patients and participants across a range of light intensities (0, 200, 500 and 1000 lux). Results: The results indicated that patients showed melatonin super-sensitivity to light in comparison with controls, a response that was consistent across the entire light intensity range investigated. Conclusion: The study provides further evidence for a super sensitive response in bipolar I patients and suggests that its potential usefulness as an endophenotypic marker of the illness is deserving of further research. [source]


Social rank and attachment in people with a bipolar disorder

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 1 2007
P. Gilbert
This paper explores the relationship between personal evaluations of attachment and personal evaluations of social rank, in relationship to mood variation in bipolar disorder. Forty patients with diagnosed bipolar affective disorder, who were regarded as ,relatively stable' by their psychiatrist, were given a set of self-report questionnaires, measuring attachment style, social comparison, submissive behaviour and various aspects of mood. Mood variation within this group was highly linked to variation in social rank evaluations. In particular, elevated mood was associated with feeling superior, while depression was associated with feeling inferior. Attachment also varied with mood but appeared to be less related to mood in this group. This study suggests that variation in social rank evaluations may be significantly associated with mood variation in patients with a bipolar disorder.,Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]