Bipolar Disorder - Clinical Tree

Key Points

Incidence

The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorders is approximately 2%.

Epidemiology

Bipolar disorder is associated with significant morbidity, including functional impairment, as well as significant risk for suicide.

Clinical Findings

Diagnosis of bipolar disorder rests on establishing current or prior manic, hypomanic, mixed, or depressive episodes.

Treatment Options

Treatments with evidence of efficacy for prevention of recurrence of mood episodes in bipolar disorder include use of lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, and some atypical antipsychotics, as well as psychosocial interventions.

Complications

Depressive episodes, as well as inter-episode sub-threshold depressive symptoms, contribute substantially to the morbidity of bipolar disorder.

Overview

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a group of brain diseases characterized by periods of depressed or elevated/irritable mood that last for weeks to years. Sometimes referred to as manic-depressive illness or manic-depressive disorder, it is traditionally considered a recurrent illness, although a growing body of evidence suggests that symptoms are chronic in many patients. The defining features of BPD are manic or hypomanic episodes; however, depressive symptoms contribute to much of the disability associated with this illness.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors

The National Co-morbidity Survey—Replication (NCS-R) study, in which a random population-based sample of about 9,000 adults was contacted and screened using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , ed 4 (DSM-IV)–based questions, estimated a lifetime prevalence of 1% for bipolar I disorder and 1.1% for bipolar II disorder. A previous population-based survey using a validated self-report questionnaire estimated the prevalence of BPD at 3.4% to 3.7%. In the NCS-R, the prevalence of “sub-threshold” BPD—that is, two or more core features of hypomania, without meeting criteria for BPD—was estimated at 2.4%. With this broader definition, the prevalence of all “bipolar spectrum” disorders reaches 4.4%.

The prevalence of BPD is similar for men and women though gender differences may exist in illness features. The risk for BPD also appears to be similar across racial groups and geographical regions. For example, epidemiological studies indicate a lifetime prevalence between 0.3% in Taiwan and 1.5% in New Zealand. Past studies have also suggested that BPD might be under-recognized among non-Caucasians, because of a tendency instead to diagnose these individuals with schizophrenia. However, the NCS-R survey found no differences in the prevalence of BPD by race/ethnicity or by socioeconomic status (defined by family income).

The strongest established risk factor for BPD is a family history of BPD. Individuals with a first-degree relative (a parent or sibling) with BPD have a risk approximately 5 to 10 times that of those in the general population (see the section on genetics, later in this chapter). Importantly, however, their risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) is also increased more than twofold; given the greater prevalence of MDD; this means that family members of bipolar individuals are at greater risk for MDD than BPD, though some authors argue that many of those diagnosed with MDD simply have unrecognized BPD.

A number of putative environmental risks have been described for BPD ; these include pregnancy and obstetrical complications, season of birth (winter or spring birth, perhaps indicating maternal exposure to infection), stressful life events, traumatic brain injuries, and multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, for example, the prevalence of BPD is roughly doubled ; this increase does not appear to result from adverse effects of pharmacotherapy. The prevalence may also be increased among individuals with certain neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Another intriguing finding is the association between dietary omega-3 fatty acid consumption and risk of mood disorders. Most such studies focus broadly on depressed mood, although one study reporting on data from 18 countries found greater seafood consumption to be associated with a lower risk for BPD.

Historical Context

The concept of mood disorders dates back at least to the observations of the ancient Greeks, who recognized melancholia (depression) and mania. Beginning with the Greeks, and continuing through the nineteenth century, multiple authors independently connected the two mood states. For example, the French physician Jules Baillarger referred to “la folie a double-forme,” the alternation of manic and depressive episodes. Indeed, the concept of a dichotomy between MDD and BPD did not re-emerge until the 1960s, and remains a subject of controversy (see the section on bipolar spectrum illness , later in this chapter).

The modern concept of BPD is attributed to Emil Kraepelin, whose text described the principle of opposing mood states, and more broadly distinguished primary affective disorders from primary psychotic disorders, a distinction that still stands, despite increasing evidence that this distinction is not absolute (see the section on genetics, later in this chapter). Kraepelin's description of phenomenology, based on careful longitudinal evaluation, is instantly recognizable to many modern clinicians. However, some of the nuance of Kraepelin's descriptions has not been transmitted in modern definitions. To cite but one example, the description (by Kraepelin's student Weygandt) of multiple categories of mixed states actually presages modern debates about the overlap between rapid mood cycling, mixed manic and depressive presentations, sub-threshold mood symptoms, and co-morbid anxiety and psychosis.

Clinical Features and Phenomenology

BPD is characterized by the presence of mood episodes—that is, periods of change in mood with associated symptoms. These mood episodes are described as depressive, hypomanic, manic, or mixed depending on the predominant mood and the nature of associated symptoms. Criteria for each mood state are included in the DSM-5. Mood episodes are not in and of themselves diagnoses, but rather they form the building blocks for the diagnosis of mood disorders. The key feature for the diagnosis of BPD is the presence of at least one period of mood elevation or significant irritability meeting criteria for a manic, mixed, or hypomanic episode. These episodes typically recur over time; see Figure 5-1 for a graphical illustration of the course of illness in one patient.

A manic episode is identified when a patient experiences an elevated or irritable mood for at least 1 week, along with at least three associated symptoms (described in Box 5-1 ). An important change in DSM-5 requires the presence of increased activity or energy as a core, or A, criterion, in an effort to improve diagnostic specificity. If the predominant affect is irritable, four rather than three associated symptoms are required. If the symptoms result in hospitalization at any point, the 1-week criterion is not required—for example, a patient hospitalized after 3 days of manic symptoms is still considered to have experienced a manic episode. As with episodes of major depression, DSM-5 criteria also require that symptoms be sufficient to markedly impair occupational or social function, or be associated with psychotic symptoms. The reliability of diagnosis for bipolar I was modest in DSM-5 field trials, with a kappa of 0.56. Hypomanic symptoms are generally similar to, but less severe and impairing than, manic symptoms. DSM-5 criteria require at least 4 days of mood elevation or irritability, along with associated symptoms; as with mania, required core symptoms now include increase in energy or activity. There are three important, but often overlooked, aspects of these criteria that bear highlighting. First, symptoms must be observable by others—that is, a purely subjective report of hypomania is not sufficient for a diagnosis. Second, symptoms represent a change from the individual's baseline; those who are “always” cheerful, impulsive, and talkative are not considered chronically hypomanic (though see the section on hyperthymia, later in this chapter). Third, symptoms by definition do not cause significant functional impairment—hypomanic-like symptoms that lead to loss of a job, for example, could be considered mania. As these criteria may be difficult to operationalize, it is not surprising that inter-rater reliability of hypomania criteria in DSM-5 field trials is somewhat lower.

Box 5-1

DSM-5 Criteria

Manic Episode

A.
A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy, lasting at least 1 week and present most of the day, nearly every day (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary).
B.
During the period of mood disturbance and increased energy or activity, three (or more) of the following symptoms (four if the mood is only irritable) are present to a significant degree and represent a noticeable change from usual behaviour:
- 1.
  Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
- 2.
  Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
- 3.
  More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
- 4.
  Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
- 5.
  Distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
- 6.
  Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
- 7.
  Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments).
C.
The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
D.
The episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

Note: A full manic episode that emerges during antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy) but persists at a fully syndromal level beyond the physiological effect of that treatment is sufficient evidence for a manic episode and, therefore, a bipolar I diagnosis.

Note: Criteria A–D constitute a manic episode. At least one lifetime manic episode is required for the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder.

A major depressive episode is defined exactly as it is in MDD: the presence of depressed mood or loss of interest, most of the day, more days than not, with additional symptoms that include changes in sleep or appetite, poor self-esteem, feelings of guilt, fatigue, poor concentration, psychomotor agitation or slowing, and thoughts of suicide. In DSM-IV when criteria were met for both a major depressive and a manic episode nearly every day for at least 1 week, an episode would be characterized as a mixed state. In DSM-5, this mood state is omitted, but a modifier—“with mixed features”—recognizes the common co-occurrence of manic and depressive features, setting a lower threshold than full syndromal criteria for each episode type.

Having identified the presence and type of current and past mood episodes, the clinician may then categorize the type of mood disorder and make a diagnosis. These diagnostic features are summarized in Table 5-1 . Individuals with at least one manic episode are considered to have bipolar I disorder. Those with at least one hypomanic and one depressive episode, but never a manic episode, are considered to have bipolar II disorder. Individuals who have never experienced a period of hypomania, mania, or a mixed state do not have BPD (see the section on bipolar spectrum illness , later in this chapter). Note that individuals with episodes of hypomania but never manic/mixed states must also have had at least one depressive episode to meet criteria for BPD. In practice, the prevalence of hypomania without a single depressive episode is quite rare.

TABLE 5-1

Diagnostic Features of Mood Disorders

	Mania/Mixed	Depression
Bipolar I	Yes	Typical but not required
Bipolar II	Hypomania only	Yes
MDD	Never	Yes
Cyclothymia	Never (but periods of elevation)	Symptoms but not full episode within first 2 years

MDD, Major depressive disorder.

Two additional diagnoses are considered part of the bipolar spectrum in the DSM-5. Individuals with persistent mood instability who never meet full criteria for BPD or MDD are considered to have cyclothymia, a heterogeneous diagnosis whose relationship to other diagnostic categories is poorly understood. Specific criteria include at least 2 years marked by periods of hypomania, as well as periods of depressed mood and no more than 2 months without symptoms. Other specified bipolar and related disorder may be diagnosed in individuals with features of BPD (including mood elevation or depression) who do not meet criteria for another bipolar diagnosis (for example, where too few symptoms of hypomania are present).

Associated Illness Features

Bipolar I versus II

The distinction between bipolar I and II disorder formally entered the American diagnostic system in the DSM-IV and continued in DSM-5, though it was initially described in 1976, based on apparent stable differences in course of illness. Indeed, modern studies suggest that transition from bipolar II to bipolar I among adult patients is rare. Some studies suggest that bipolar II patients may experience more frequent episodes and greater risk for rapid cycling, as well as greater burden of depressive symptoms. These differences belie the common misconception that bipolar II is less disabling than bipolar I.

Psychosis

Psychosis is not represented in the diagnostic features for BPD. However, psychotic symptoms are common during both manic/mixed and depressive episodes. A Finnish population-based study found a prevalence of 0.24% for psychotic bipolar I disorder. The lifetime prevalence of psychotic symptoms in a cohort of bipolar patients was approximately 40%. So-called “mood-congruent” psychotic symptoms are often seen—for example, grandiose delusions during mania or delusions of decay and doom during depression. Psychosis typically resolves along with the mood symptoms, though diagnostic criteria acknowledge that psychotic symptoms may linger beyond the end of the mood episode.

Suicide

Suicidal thoughts and attempts are also not required for a diagnosis of BPD, although they are among the criteria for a depressive episode. In one large cohort of bipolar I and II patients, between 25% and 50% reported at least one lifetime suicide attempt. In population-based studies, risk of death from suicide among bipolar patients is estimated at between 10 and 25 times that of the general population, similar to that observed in MDD.

Cognitive Symptoms

Increasingly, a subset of patients with BPD has been recognized as experiencing cognitive impairment, both during and outside of mood episodes. Such impairment has been difficult to characterize because it is likely multi-factorial, but clearly contributes to the profound functional impairments experienced by many bipolar patients. Many commonly used pharmacotherapies (including lithium and anticonvulsants) can affect cognition. Likewise, residual mood symptoms, both depressive and manic, may affect cognition—for example, difficulty with concentrating or distractibility may occur. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has also been suggested to be prevalent among patients with BPD. This finding may represent “true” ADHD, or simply an overlap in the diagnostic criteria of these diagnoses.

Regardless of potential confounding effects, rigorous studies incorporating neuropsychological testing of relatively euthymic patients suggest a plethora of cognitive complaints. Because these studies often use different cognitive batteries among relatively small numbers of patients, it is difficult to arrive at a single cognitive profile that is typical for BPD. Typical findings on neuropsychological testing include impairment in attention and executive function and, in some studies, deficits in working or verbal memory.

Features of Longitudinal Course

Age at Onset and Prodrome

More recent studies suggest that the age of onset of BPD may be somewhat earlier than previously appreciated. In a large cohort study of adults with BPD, nearly one-third of individuals reported the onset of symptoms before age 13, and another one-third became symptomatic between ages 13 and 18 years. In this study, earlier onset was associated with a more chronic and recurrent course, greater functional impairment, and greater Axis I co-morbidity. Unfortunately, most such studies rely on retrospective reporting, and frequently fail to distinguish between the onset of mood symptoms and the onset of a syndromal mood episode. In the NCS-R survey, the mean age at onset for bipolar I disorder was 18.2 years, and for bipolar II disorder it was 20.3 years.

Mood Episodes and Chronicity

Traditional emphasis on the episodic structure of BPD has been complemented with a recognition that, for many patients, symptoms may be chronic and persist beyond discrete episodes (see Figure 5-1 ). Indeed, such symptoms likely contribute substantially to the disability associated with BPD, estimated to be one of the 10 greatest medical causes of disability world-wide. In general, while hypomania and mania are considered the defining features of BPD, patients spend a far greater amount of time ill—around two-thirds of the time, in one longitudinal study —with depressive symptoms. In general, persistence of sub-syndromal symptoms appears to be common, which may explain in part persistence of functional impairment as well.

Up to 40% of bipolar I patients experience a mixed state at some point in their disease course. Recently, the concept of sub-threshold mixed states has received increasing attention: patients who do not meet the stringent criteria for a mixed state (who do not meet full criteria for both a manic and a depressive episode simultaneously), but nonetheless have some degree of both types of symptoms. Depressive symptoms are common during manic or hypomanic episodes, underscoring the importance of inquiring about both poles. Conversely, during depressive episodes, patients may experience some degree of hypomanic symptoms, such as racing thoughts. The prognostic implications, if any, of these sub-threshold mixed states has not been well studied. However, the change in DSM-5 to incorporate mixed symptoms as modifiers of a manic or depressive episode rather than distinct states is an effort to better capture such symptoms.

Rapid Cycling

DSM-IV-TR criteria described rapid cycling as a course specifier in BPD—that is, an illness feature that may be present at times but not necessarily throughout the course of the illness. Specifically, individuals with at least four syndromal mood episodes within a single year, separated by full recovery or a switch to the opposite pole, are considered to experience rapid cycling. In one cohort of bipolar patients, prevalence of rapid cycling was 20% assessed retrospectively, and rapid cycling was associated with greater illness burden and chronicity.

Antidepressant-induced Mania/Hypomania

A small number of patients experience the onset of mania or hypomania after initiation of antidepressants, which under DSM-5 is considered to represent BPD. The true prevalence and time course of this phenomenon is difficult to estimate, particularly for a switch to hypomania, because in clinical practice, as well as in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), such symptoms of elevated mood may not be aggressively investigated. A patient who sees his or her clinician, 2 weeks after beginning an antidepressant, feeling “great” and congratulating the clinician on the clinician's excellent skills requires careful questioning about manic/hypomanic symptoms, but more often is congratulated in turn on his or her excellent antidepressant response. In one of the largest prospective antidepressant treatment studies to date in MDD, there was little or no evidence of antidepressant-induced mood elevation. Likewise, most randomized trials in MDD report switch-rates of less than 1%. In a cohort study of BPD, ~20% of subjects transitioned directly from depression to mania/hypomania. Importantly, however, this rate was similar regardless of antidepressant treatment exposure, making the point that such transitions are often not associated with antidepressant treatment and may represent part of the natural history of the disorder.

Such switches are typically described as early (often within 2 weeks) and abrupt, though the time course has not been well established and it is possible that patients “switch” after prolonged antidepressant exposure, and perhaps even after antidepressant discontinuation. Some definitions consider any transition within 8 or 12 weeks of antidepressant initiation to represent a switch. Some patients describe colors being more vivid, or having an abrupt urge to undertake new projects. Importantly, the switch must be discriminated from the immense relief many patients experience with resolution of their depressive symptoms. It does not represent simply the absence of depressive symptoms, but the presence of hypomanic/manic symptoms. Again, close longitudinal follow-up may be required to clarify the diagnosis.

Because of its relative rarity, both the short- and long-term prognosis for patients who only experience hypomania or mania after antidepressant initiation is not known. Even among patients with BPD, induction of a switch with one antidepressant does not necessarily imply induction of a switch with another agent. Still, in general, patients with an antidepressant-induced mood elevation require treatment with mood-stabilizing medications for treatment and prevention of future depressive episodes.

Seasonality and Climate

A relationship between season and course of illness in BPD has been reported, but its precise nature remains unclear. Multiple studies suggest peaks in admissions for mania, generally occurring in late spring/summer. One report suggested that most bipolar patients follow one of two patterns: depression in fall or winter, with elevation in spring/summer, or spring-summer depression, with fall-winter mania. Most recently, a large cohort study found depression peaks in February and July, but only in BPD-II. They found depression to be more prevalent among patients with BPD in more northern regions of the US.

Changes in Episode Frequency

A persistent belief about BPD dating back to Kraepelin's descriptions has been that the interval between episodes decreases over time, at least across the first several episodes. This apparent observation contributed in part to earlier hypotheses that posited a “kindling” effect in which episodes beget subsequent episodes. However, it may actually be the result, at least in part, of a statistical artifact first described more than 70 years ago and referred to as “Slater's fallacy.” Indeed, more recent analyses suggest that such worsening with time is not the case for many patients.

Neurobiology and Pathophysiology

Hypotheses

A number of overlapping hypotheses guide current research into the neurobiology of BPD. One set of observations relates to the mechanism of action of lithium, known to be an effective treatment for BPD (see Chapter 8 ). While its therapeutic mechanism is not known, it does interact with two key pathways in cell signaling: inositol triphosphate (InsP3)-dependent signaling, and the Wnt signaling pathway, the latter because it inhibits glycogen synthesis kinase 3-beta (GSK3B). The Wnt/GSK3 pathway represents a particular area of interest in BPD because it is a convergent site of action of multiple psychotropics, not just lithium, and because some putative schizophrenia and bipolar liability genes influence this pathway. Other clinically-based hypotheses of current interest include the role of circadian rhythm disruption, because of its prevalence in BPD, and models of stress response.

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