Metabolic Comorbidity and Physical Health Implications for Bipolar Disorder: An Update

Abstract

Medical comorbidities are overrepresented in individuals with bipolar disorder, including, but not limited to, cardiovascular conditions, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Overweight/obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are highly prevalent in individuals with bipolar disorder. Evidence from epidemiological studies indicates that the aforementioned medical comorbidities are responsible for significant morbidity and early mortality. Results from disparate studies indicate that metabolic comorbidities modify and complicate the clinical presentation of bipolar disorder; metabolic comorbidities are associated with a more chronic and severe course of illness, as well as resistance to pharmacological treatment. Furthermore, co-occurrence of obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus and bipolar disorder has been suggested to contribute to cognitive dysfunction, a core feature of bipolar disorder and a principal mediator of functional disability, highlighting the clinical releva...