Diagnosis Of Bipolar Disorder Type Research Articles

Identifying predictive factors for mood recurrence in early-onset major mood disorders: A 4-year, multicenter, prospective cohort study

We investigate the predictive factors of the mood recurrence in patients with early-onset major mood disorders from a prospective observational cohort study from July 2015 to December 2019. A total of 495 patients were classified into three groups according to recurrence during the cohort observation period: recurrence group with (hypo)manic or mixed features (MMR), recurrence group with only depressive features (ODR), and no recurrence group (NR). As a result, the baseline diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1 (BDI) and bipolar disorder type 2 (BDII), along with a familial history of BD, are strong predictors of the MMR. The discrepancies in wake-up times between weekdays and weekends, along with disrupted circadian rhythms, are identified as a notable predictor of ODR. Our findings confirm that we need to be aware of different predictors for each form of mood recurrences in patients with early-onset mood disorders. In clinical practice, we expect that information obtained from the initial assessment of patients with mood disorders, such as mood disorder type, family history of BD, regularity of wake-up time, and disruption of circadian rhythms, can help predict the risk of recurrence for each patient, allowing for early detection and timely intervention.

Study of the clinical profile of older patients with bipolar disorder in a tertiary care center in the Midwest of Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinical and psychiatric characteristics of older outpatients with bipolar disorder (BD), including psychiatric history (age of onset of symptoms, length of time with the illness, and number of psychiatric hospitalizations), mood state, and cognitive function. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where clinical and demographic data were obtained by a psychiatric interview with each patient and family members as well as by a review of medical records. The sample consisted of 20 individuals aged 60 years or older with a diagnosis of BD type I according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. Descriptive data analysis was performed, with categorical variables expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. Results: No patient had manic or depressive symptoms at the time of the evaluation; 15 (75.0%) had an early onset while 5 (25.0%) had a late onset of the disease. Nine patients (45.0%) showed no cognitive decline whereas 11 (55.0%) showed mild cognitive impairment. Conclusions: This study presents an understudied group of patients with BD. Considering the personal impact and burden on the health system related to this psychiatric condition, it is recommended that further studies be conducted in this area to better evaluate this growing population.

Structured physical exercise for bipolar depression: an open-label, proof-of concept study

BackgroundPhysical exercise (PE) is a recommended lifestyle intervention for different mental disorders and has shown specific positive therapeutic effects in unipolar depressive disorder. Considering the similar symptomatology of the depressive phase in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and unipolar depressive disorder, it is reasonable to suggest that PE may also be beneficial for bipolar depression. However, there is an absence of studies evaluating the antidepressant effect of a structured PE intervention in BD.MethodsThis is an open-label, single-arm study trial. Fifteen patients with a diagnosis of BD Type I or Type II, presenting a depressive episode were included in the study. After physical and functional evaluation, patients participated in supervised training sessions with aerobics followed by strength exercises, three times per week, for 12 weeks (36 training sessions). Depressive and manic symptoms were assessed at baseline and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Additionally, quality of Life and functioning were assessed at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks). Finally, we tested cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and body composition at baseline and week-12.ResultsThe mean (± SD) Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score at baseline was 23.6 ± 8.3 points and after 12 weeks of PE the mean score was 10.2 ± 4.8 points. Nine patients (82%) presented an antidepressant response defined as a reduction of more than 50% of depressive symptoms at week 12 with five of those patients (45%) presenting criteria for full remission. A large and significant Cohen’s D Effect Size (pre-post) was verified for MADRS reduction [1.98 (95% Confidence interval = 0.88 to 3.08)]. We did not detect a significant change in manic symptoms, functioning, and quality of life during the 12-week follow-up. At week-12, all patients increased their muscular strength (one repetition maximal test − 1RM) and reduced the percentage of body fat (spectral bioelectrical impedance analysis).ConclusionsThis study, using rigorous criteria and a structured intervention, provides valid pilot data, showing the feasibility of a structured PE intervention for the treatment of depressive symptoms in BD, and suggesting a potential adjunctive antidepressant effect. Moreover, PE showed a positive impact on muscle strength and body composition. This should be further verified by randomized controlled studies.

Diagnostic difficulties in bipolar disorder type II

IntroductionBipolar disorder is one of the top 10 medical causes of disability according to the WHO and despite this, its diagnosis can be delayed up to 10 years after the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. A major reason for the difficult diagnosis is the challenge of differentiating bipolar disorder type II from unipolar depression and borderline personality disorder, especially in those patients with no clear history of hypomania.ObjectivesTo present a case report of a bipolar disorder undiagnosed for years to remark the importance of recognizing premorbid symptoms of the disease in order to implement an early intervention that potentially improves the prognosis of patients.MethodsWe compiled the patient’s complete medical history and we carried out a non-systematic review of literature containing the key-words “bipolar disorder type II” and “diagnosis”.ResultsWe present the case of a 48-year-old woman going through a depressive episode, multiple suicide attempts and more than 10 admissions in the Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. For 3 years, the evolution was torpid with a significant multidomain cognitive impairment in a previously functional patient. Different antidepressant treatments were tested, however they were not tolerated due to adverse effects such as anxiety, insomnia and nervousness. After considering multiple differential diagnoses, bipolar disorder type II was finally diagnosed. A hypomanic episode that took place after 3 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy during an admission for depression, allowed to guide the diagnosis and after the introduction of Lithium and Quetiapine as treatment, the patient experienced a complete remission of the symptoms.Conclusions1.It is important to consider the differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder type II due to its impact on the patient´s life.2.An early diagnosis improves the course and prognosis of the disease.3.Patients resistant or intolerant to antidepressant treatment could have undiagnosed bipolar disorder.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Childhood maltreatment and clinical response to mood stabilizers in patients with bipolar disorder

IntroductionChildhood maltreatment (CM) is recognized to be a non-specific risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. It has been consistently demonstrated that exposure to CM increases the risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD). In addition, CM has been associated with worse clinical presentation and course of BD. CM has been also linked to poorer responses to psychotropic drug treatments in different psychiatric disorders.ObjectivesThe aim of the current study was to explore retrospectively the impact of CM on the response to prophylactic treatment with lithium or anticonvulsants in a cohort of adult BD patients. Based on the reported literature, we hypothesized that BD patients with a history of CM would present a poorer response to both lithium and anticonvulsant treatments.MethodsParticipants were recruited from patients consecutively attending the outpatient facilities of the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Salerno. The following inclusion criteria were adopted: (1) diagnosis of BD type 1 or type 2 according to DSM‐5 criteria; (2) age ≥ 18 years; (3) willingness to participate in the study, expressed by written informed consent; (4) stable adequate treatments with mood stabilizers (at least 1‐year duration and, in the case of lithium, at therapeutic blood levels); (5) being clinically euthymic at the time of inclusion. Retrospective treatment response was evaluated by using the Alda scale. CM history was assessed by means of the short form of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).ResultsThirty‐seven patients (24 with a history of CM and 13 without CM) were on stable lithium treatment while sixty (35 with a history of CM and 25 without CM) were on stable anticonvulsant treatment. Clinical response to drug treatment did not differ between BD with CM and those without CM in the whole sample as well as in the anticonvulsant‐treated subgroup. In the lithium‐treated subgroup, a significant negative correlation emerged between physical abuse and treatment response (ρ = −0.38; p = 0.03) and patients with CM showed a significantly reduced Alda score (p = 0.04).ConclusionsIn patients with BD, CM did not influence the clinical response of anticonvulsants, whereas it was associated with a poorer response to lithium with childhood physical abuse playing a major role in this effect.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

(104) Mania, Dressed and Undressed: A Case of Hepatic Encephalopathy Cloaking a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type 1

(104) Mania, Dressed and Undressed: A Case of Hepatic Encephalopathy Cloaking a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type 1

Theory of mind profile and cerebellar alterations in remitted bipolar disorder 1 and 2: a comparison study.

The literature on social cognition abilities in bipolar disorder (BD) is controversial about the occurrence of theory of mind (ToM) alterations. In addition to other cerebral structures, such as the frontal and limbic areas, the processing of socially relevant stimuli has also been attributed to the cerebellum, which has been demonstrated to be involved in the above-mentioned disorder. Nevertheless, the cerebellar contribution to ToM deficits in bipolar patients needs to be elucidated further. To this aim, two tests assessing different components of ToM were used to evaluate the ability to appreciate affective and mental states of others in 17 individuals with a diagnosis of BD type 1 (BD1) and 13 with BD type 2 (BD2), both in the euthymic phase, compared to healthy matched controls. Cerebellar gray matter (GM) volumes were extracted and compared between BD1 and controls and BD2 and controls by using voxel-based morphometry. The results showed that BD1 patients were compromised in the cognitive and advanced components of ToM, while the BD2 ToM profile resulted in a more widespread compromise, also involving affective and automatic components. Both overlapping and differing areas of cerebellar GM reduction were found. The two groups of patients presented a pattern of GM reduction in cerebellar portions that are known to be involved in the affective and social domains, such as the vermis and Crus I and Crus II. Interestingly, in both BD1 and BD2, positive correlations were detected between lower ToM scores and decreased volumes in the cerebellum. Overall, BD2 patients showed a more compromised ToM profile and greater cerebellar impairment than BD1 patients. The different patterns of structural abnormalities may account for the different ToM performances evidenced, thus leading to divergent profiles between BD1 and BD2.

Are there differences in affective temperaments between patients with Bipolar I and II disorder?

IntroductionBipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder with a high genetic load, in which is relevant to identify potential differences in affective temperaments between both diagnostic subtypes.ObjectivesTo find differences between BDI and BDII patients in affective temperaments evaluated by Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego TEMPS-A.MethodsA sample of 407 euthymic patients with diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I (BDI= 307) or type II (BDII= 100) according to DSM-IV-TR criteria being age 18 or older was recruited from the Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. Five affective temperaments were evaluated using the TEMPS-A. It was initially verified that the scores of these temperaments do not fulfil the assumption of normality by means of tests. Differences in means were estimated using Mann-Whitney U and Chi square tests (p <0.05) as appropriate, and ANCOVA controlling the effect of confounding variables.ResultsData revealed that patients with BD II had significantly higher scores in four affective temperaments: dysthymic, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious compared to BDI. After controlling the most relevant moderating variables, BDII patients continued to show higher scores in irritable temperament .ConclusionsBDII patients present a more irritable temperament than BDI (p=0,037), which can affect the course and management of the disease. It could be suggested that presenting higher scores of these temperaments could be associated with BDII and further studies are needed to replicate this finding since it might help the clinicians in early phases to guide in the diagnostic process.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Use of intravenous valproate in acute manic: about a clinical case

IntroductionAcute mania can have behavioral effects such as agitation, being a frequent cause of presentation in the emergency department. Pharmacological treatments include mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics. Valproate is an effective drug. However, the intravenous formulation is relegated to other pathologies, such as epilepsy.ObjectivesThe objective was to review the use of intravenous valproate in acute mania in the literature and present its use through a clinical case.MethodsA clinical case using intravenous valproate to treat an episode of acute mania is described and the scientific literature of the last 5 years is reviewed.Results A 43-year-old patient attended the emergency department with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I in manic episode with agitation, rejection of oral medication, brought in by the police due to risk of aggression against family members, who reported that the patient had stopped taking her usual medication with valproate 500 mg / 24h and quetiapine 200 mg / 24h threemonths ago. Due to the possibility of having intravenous valproate, it was decided to administer 300 mg intravenously, as well as haloperidol 5 mg intravenously, and hospitalization was decided. The patient had a favorable evolution, with no side effects to the medication, and oral treatment was started after 8 hours, with a good response. In the literature there are few studies in this regard, although the most of them approved the use of valproate as a loading dose in acute mania.ConclusionsIntravenous valproate is an effective, safe, and tolerated treatment in acute mania. More studies are needed to collect precise information.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Identifying Recent Manic Symptoms by Newly Discharged Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder type I is a chronic and recurrent disease and is considered as the ninth nonfatal disease. Identifying the symptoms of the manic episode, which are more likely detected by patients, increases the ability of psychiatrists in diagnosing this disorder. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 96 patients with bipolar disorder were enrolled from 2 academic psychiatric centers. Then, using the patients’ medical records, demographic data were collected. Further, both the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) interview and the Young mania rating scale (Y-MRS) scale were also performed. Then, about 27 to 33 days after discharge, the patients were contacted by phone and the SCID-I interview was conducted again. Meanwhile, to make the patients focus on the period from which they have recently improved, the phrase "the recent period of hospitalization" was added to the interview questions and the symptoms were checked. Results: At the beginning of the hospitalization, the most common symptom in the total population was irritable mood (89.5%): in the male population decreased need for sleep (98.2%), and in the female population irritable mood (97.5%). In addition, in the evaluation, about 1 month later, irritable mood (69.7%) and decreased need for sleep (67.7%) were the most common symptoms detected by the patients. In terms of the predictive value of each symptom to the diagnosis of that symptom by the psychiatrist, the highest positive predictive value was related to the symptoms of irritable mood (95.5%), decreased need for sleep (95.4%), and talkativeness (95.2%). However, the highest negative predictive value was related to the symptom of elevated mood (87.5%). Conclusion: The patients who have passed manic episodes are more able to detect some symptoms of this episode. Despite some limitations, it seems that using these statistical findings in practice may promote clinical assessment and diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I by psychiatrists.

Empirical support for the use and further study of the countertransference construct in the clinical care of patients with bipolar disorder.

We thank Andrew Shaw and colleagues for their recent paper1 inBipolar Disorders, highlightingthat theeffectivetreatment of patients with bipolar disorder requires a good therapeutic alliance,which is related to the clinicians' countertransference reactions and their management. The authorssuggestthat the integration of a psychodynamic approach into the biological paradigm in psychiatry might be helpful to increase countertransference awareness in clinicians, andpotentially improvingdyadic communication,resolution ofalliance ruptures, and treatment adherence. Theyalsomention that although the theoretical literature on countertransference is well developed, no good empirical studies exist that investigate the countertransferential responses experienced by mental health clinicians involved in the care of individualsduring acute phases of bipolar disorder. We would, however, like to add some examples of empirical evidence for the use (and further study) of the countertransference in the clinical care of these patients.

The impact of lifetime interpersonal and intentional trauma on cognition and vulnerability to psychosis in bipolar disorder

Background Studies have shown that over half of individuals with bipolar disorder experience early-life trauma, which may influence clinical outcomes, including suicidality and presence of psychotic features. However, studies report inconsistent findings regarding the effect of trauma on cognitive outcomes in bipolar disorder. Aims Our study explores the effect of lifetime trauma on the level of vulnerability to psychosis and cognitive performance in participants with bipolar disorder. Method We evaluated lifetime trauma history in 236 participants with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1 or 2, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. We classified trauma types based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's concept of trauma, which characterises the type of experienced trauma (e.g. interpersonal and intentional, accidental or naturally occurring). Our primary outcome measures of interest were vulnerability to psychosis (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire), cognitive performance (MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery) and social functioning (Social Adjustment Scale Self-Report). Results Multivariate analysis of covariance showed a significant effect of trauma type on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire cognitive–perceptual domain (F(3) = 6.7, P < 0.001). The no-trauma group had lower cognitive–perceptual schizotypal features compared with the accidental and intentional trauma (P < 0.001) and interpersonal and intentional trauma (P = 0.01) groups. Conclusions Our results highlight the need for careful trauma inquiry in patients with bipolar disorder, and consideration of how trauma-focused or -informed treatments may be an integral part of treatment planning to improve outcomes in bipolar disorder.

Network of co-expressed circadian genes, childhood maltreatment and sleep quality in bipolar disorders

ABSTRACT Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and burdensome psychiatric disease, characterized by variations in mood and energy. The literature has consistently demonstrated an association between BD and childhood maltreatment (CM), and genetic variants of circadian genes have been associated with an increased vulnerability to develop BD. In this context, environmental factors such as CM may also contribute to the susceptibility to BD through alterations in the functioning of the biological clock linked to modifications of expression of circadian genes. In this study, we explored the associations between childhood maltreatment, sleep quality, and the level of expression of a comprehensive set of circadian genes in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with BD. The sample consisted of 52 Caucasian euthymic patients with a diagnosis of BD type 1 or type 2. The exposure to CM was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. We measured the expression of 18 circadian genes using quantitative RT-PCR: ARNTL2, BHLHE40, BHLHE41, CLOCK, CRY1, CRY2, CSNK1D, CSNK1E, DBP, GSK3B, NPAS2, NR1D1, PER1, PER2, PER3, PPARGC1A, RORA, and RORB. Gene expression networks were analyzed with the disjoint graphs method. Compared to the other investigated transcripts, PPARGC1A was the only one whose expression level was differentially affected in patients who have experienced CM and, more specifically, physical abuse. We observed no significant effects of the other CTQ subscores (emotional and sexual abuses, physical and emotional neglects), nor of the sleep quality on the network of circadian genes expression. Although requiring replication in larger cohorts, the result obtained here is consistent with the hypothesis of an influence of CM exposure on circadian systems and highlights the importance of PPARGC1A in these processes.

Neuropsychiatric masquerades: Distinguishing neurodegenerative disease from bipolar disorder.

Multiple medical or neurological conditions may mimic or contribute to a patient's neuropsychiatric symptoms. In a retrospective chart review of 252 patients with a neurodegenerative disease who attended a specialty clinic, it was found that 28.2% of them received a prior psychiatric diagnosis (1). We herein present a clinical vignette involving an elderly Chinese lady with a historical diagnosis of bipolar disorder Type 1, admitted to us to our tertiary setting for a supposed relapse episode.

Further Insights Into the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS): Unidimensionality Among Psychiatric Inpatients.

Short versions of the Beck Hopelessness Scale have all been created according the Classical Test Theory, but the use and the application of this theory has been repeatedly criticized. In the current study, the Item Response Theory approach was employed to refine and shorten the BHS in order to build a reasonably coherent unidimensional scale whose items/symptoms can be treated as ordinal indicators of the theoretical concept of hopelessness, scaled along a single continuum. In a sample of 492 psychiatrically hospitalized, adult patients (51.2% females), predominantly with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder type II, the BHS was submitted to Mokken Scale Analysis. A final set of the nine best-fitting items satisfied the assumptions of local independency, monotonicity, and invariance of the item ordering. Using the ROC curve method, the IRT-based 9-item BHS showed good discriminant validity in categorizing psychiatric inpatients with high/medium suicidal risk and patients with and without suicide attempts. With high sensitivity (>.90), this newly developed scale could be used as a valid screening tool for suicidal risk assessment in psychiatric inpatients.

Clinical Severity and Calcium Metabolism in Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D and serum calcium play a key role in several physiological and pathological conditions. Vitamin D and PTH receptors are largely expressed in the central nervous system and are involved in the modulation of inflammatory responses. Few studies investigated the association between calcium homeostasis imbalance and psychiatric disorders. This study aims to assess calcium homeostasis imbalance in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and its impact on clinical outcome. We recruited 199 patients with BD, who were administered with validated assessment instruments to investigate depressive, manic and anxiety symptoms, affective temperaments, childhood trauma and global functioning. Serum calcium, vitamin D and PTH levels were assessed in all patients. Levels of PTH correlated with several clinical characteristics, including the diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I (BD-I), the presence of psychotic symptoms, lithium treatment, suicidality, total number of acute episodes and of hospitalizations (p < 0.0001) and seasonality (p < 0.05). At the regression analyses, higher levels of PTH were predicted by early age at onset, number of hospitalizations, aggressive behaviors (p < 0.05), higher Childhood Trauma Questionnaire total score (CTQ) (p < 0.001) and treatment with lithium (p = 0.01). Our findings suggest that the calcium homeostasis could play a role in BD patients, and that PTH levels are correlated with the clinical severity of the disorder.

Asenapine in the treatment of trichotillomania with comorbid bipolar disorder: A case report

Trichotillomania has been found to be associated with mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder. Trichotillomania has shared similarities with bipolar disorder by virtue of phenomenology, co-morbidity, and psychopharmacologic observations. In the past, trichotillomania with comorbid bipolar disorder was treated with lithium and sodium valproate. There has been little, if any, literature on using asenapine to augment treatment in patients with trichotillomania with comorbid bipolar disorder. A patient presented with hair-pulling episodes for a year, resulting in bald scalp patches. She had no mood symptoms prior to this. She developed low mood, anhedonia, poor sleep and poor appetite subsequently as she could not stop pulling her hair. She was started on escitalopram 10 mg daily for he depressive symptoms. Three years later, she developed hypomanic symptoms such as irritability and spending sprees. Her hair pulling behaviour worsened at this time. At this point, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 2 was considered and she was started on lithium 300 mg daily. Her escitalopram was discontinued. As her mood was still labile 10 months later, asenapine was added to augment lithium in the treatment of the bipolar disorder. With asenapine, her hair pulling frequency started to decrease rapidly. Asenapine was increased to 10 mg daily and her hair pulling ceased. Her mood also stabilized and she no longer had erratic periods of mood lability. In conclusion, asenapine augmentation of lithium has potential to be used in patients who have trichotillomania with comorbid bipolar disorder due to its unique receptor profile.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Predictors of metabolic syndrome in first manic episode.

In the present study we aimed to investigate, whether an association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and clinical features and affective temperaments exists or not in first manic episode of bipolar disorder (BD) and to clarify the prevalence and predictors of MetS. A total of 150 patients who were received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I according to DSM-IV criteria and who were experiencing their first manic episode (FME) were screened consecutively for inclusion. NCEP ATP III formulated an operational definition of MetS based on the presence of three or more of the following characteristics: abdominal obesity (waist circumference), hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL or being on an antilipidemic agent, high blood pressure or being on an antihypertensive agent, and fasting hyperglycemia or being on antiglycemic agent. The patients who had been in remission period for at least 8 weeks were evaluated with SKIP-TURK and TEMPS-A. Remission was defined as YMRS score <5. 37 (32.5%) patients had a MetS. Previous depressive episode, seasonality, negative family history and childhood trauma are determined as the predictors of MetS. Anxious and irritable temperament scores were higher in MetS (+) patients. According to our results, links between MetS and BD may also have been predicted by genetic and environmental factors.

Descriptive study of patients with bipolar disorder and dyslipidemia

Introduction It is known the relationship between mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and metabolic disorders such as dyslipidemia, and therefore, increasing comorbid pathologies such as heart disease. Objectives Determine in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and dyslipidemia, which are the epidemiological characteristics, the diagnostic subtype and drug treatment prevalent. Aims Determine the profile of patients with bipolar disorder and dyslipidemia. Methods Creation of a database and conduction of a descriptive study with statistical analysis of the data extracted from the medical records of 100 patients from a public hospital. Results Higher prevalence of diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I on II (74% and 26%), male (54%) over female (46%), the age range of 40–50years, treated with antipsychotics more mood stabilizers (62%) compared to mood stabilizer monotherapy (38%) (Fig. 1). Conclusions Interventions should be conducted screening character and in patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I, male, age between 30–50years, treated with mood stabilizers plus antipsychotics (with a preference for lithium association with olanzapine).

Evaluation of suicide risk in psychiatric patients after discharge. A follow-up study

RésuméIntroductionSeveral studies show that the first period after discharge has an higher suicide risk.ObjectivesFollowing up psychiatric inpatients after discharge may be important in order to better understand the risk and the protective factors of suicide.AimThe aim of our follow-up study is to evaluate the predictive factors of suicide in a sample of psychiatric inpatients after discharge.MethodsWe analyzed the temperament and the levels of hopelessness, depression, suicide risk in a sample of 87 (54% males) inpatients at time T0 (during the hospitalization), T1 (12 months after discharge) and T2 (8 months after T1). We administered the following scales: BHS, MINI, TEMPS, GMDS, CGI.ResultsA statistically significant difference on the risk of suicide with substance abuse was found among patients who were followed up and who refused to participate, respectively at T1 (χ24 = 2.61; P &lt; 0.05) and T2 (χ24 = 1.57; P = 0.05). At T1, 4 patients attempted suicide and 18 showed suicidal ideation. In the second follow-up, 1 patient successful committed suicide, 1 subject attempted suicide and 10 patients showed suicidal ideation. Patients with suicidal ideation at T1 showed higher levels of hopelessness and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type I (χ24 = 10.28; P = 0.05). Sixty-seven percent of subjects with suicidal ideation showed higher scores in the BHS at T1. Significant differences were found on the anxious temperament at T2 between two groups.ConclusionsThe follow-up could represent a significant strategy to prevent suicide in psychiatric patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.