Unrecognized Bipolar Disorder Research Articles

A study to identify unrecognized bipolar disorder in patients of major depressive disorder taking antidepressants

Background: Unrecognized bipolar spectrum disorder under cover diagnosis of major depression disorder leads to wrong medications (antidepressants in absence of mood stabilizer), which may switch to mania. Aim and Objectives: A study was to identify unrecognized bipolar disorder in patients of major depressive disorder taking antidepressants. Materials and Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study of 150 patients previously diagnosed as major depressive disorder taking antidepressants from tertiary care hospital. Patients were assessed by proforma containing demographic details, Questionnaire of mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ), and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) followed by clinical interview according to DSM-5 to confirm diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done. Results: We found 6.67% depression patients screened positive on MDQ for bipolar disorder and diagnosis is confirmed by interview according to DSM-5. MDQ positive patients have early age of onset of depression(P=0.0109), long duration of depression(P=0.0478), presence of previous suicide attempt(P=0.0130), and family history of bipolar disorder(P=0.0361). No statistically significant difference was observed between mean HAMD score and severity of depression between MDQ positive and negative group. Conclusion: Among patients prescribed antidepressants for depression, there is a substantial proportion with unrecognized bipolar disorder and most of them had never received diagnosis of bipolar disorder. When seeing patients with depression disorder, clinicians should review the life history for screening of unrecognized bipolar disorder by looking for early age onset of depressive episode and long lifetime duration of depression, previous suicide attempt, and family history of bipolar disorder.

Prevalence and Clinical Features Associated with Unrecognized Bipolar Disorder among Outpatients with Depressive Disorder in Thailand

Objective: To determine the prevalence of unrecognized bipolar disorder and explore the clinical features of outpatients with depressive disorder associated with bipolar disorder. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. One hundred six volunteer participants, diagnosed with depressive disorder at Naresuan University Hospital, Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital, and Phichit Hospital participated in this study. Psychiatrists interviewed the participants to collect basic data and clinical characteristics to determine unrecognized bipolar disorder using the Thai version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: The results showed that the prevalence of unrecognized bipolar disorder was 18.9%. When multivariable logistic regression was used, it was found that there were two statistically significant factors associated with unrecognized bipolar disorder. These factors were a history of self-harm or suicide attempts (AOR 4.40, 95% CI 1.24 to 15.60), and atypical depression seen with overeating and hypersomnia (AOR 11.73, 95% CI 2.32 to 59.35). Conclusion: There are several misdiagnoses of patients with bipolar disorder because the patients are usually in a depressive state when they decide to consult a doctor. Therefore, doctors should further probe especially in patients with atypical depression, history of self-harm or attempted suicide. Keywords: Bipolar depression; Bipolar disorder; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Prevalence

A Case of Major Depressive Disorder With Mixed Features: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues.

A Case of Major Depressive Disorder With Mixed Features: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues.

Difficult-to-Treat Depressed Patients May Be Bipolar

Clinical experience and limited naturalistic studies have suggested that treatment-refractory depression may be due to unrecognized bipolar disorder.

Broadening the concept of bipolar disorder: what should be done in the face of uncertainty?

Broadening the concept of bipolar disorder: what should be done in the face of uncertainty?

Prevalence and Characteristics of Undiagnosed Bipolar Disorders in Patients With a Major Depressive Episode

Major depressive disorder, the most common psychiatric illness, is often chronic and a major cause of disability. Many patients with major depressive episodes who have an underlying but unrecognized bipolar disorder receive pharmacologic treatment with ineffective regimens that do not include mood stabilizers. To determine the frequency of bipolar disorder symptoms in patients seeking treatment for a major depressive episode. Multicenter, multinational, transcultural, cross-sectional, diagnostic study. The study arose from the initiative Bipolar Disorders: Improving Diagnosis, Guidance and Education (BRIDGE). Community and hospital psychiatry departments. Participants included 5635 adults with an ongoing major depressive episode. The frequency of bipolar disorder was determined by applying both DSM-IV-TR criteria and previously described bipolarity specifier criteria. Variables associated with bipolarity were assessed using logistic regression. A total of 903 patients fulfilled DSM-IV-TR criteria for bipolar disorder (16.0%; 95% confidence interval, 15.1%-17.0%), whereas 2647 (47.0%; 95% confidence interval, 45.7%-48.3%) met the bipolarity specifier criteria. Using both definitions, significant associations (odds ratio > 2; P < .001) with bipolarity were observed for family history of mania/hypomania and multiple past mood episodes. The bipolarity specifier additionally identified significant associations for manic/hypomanic states during antidepressant therapy, current mixed mood symptoms, and comorbid substance use disorder. The bipolar-specifier criteria in comparison with DSM-IV-TR criteria were valid and identified an additional 31% of patients with major depressive episodes who scored positive on the bipolarity criteria. Family history, illness course, and clinical status, in addition to DSM-IV-TR criteria, may provide useful information for physicians when assessing evidence of bipolarity in patients with major depressive episodes. Such an assessment is recommended before deciding on treatment.

Long-term naturalistic follow-up of lithium augmentation: Relevance to bipolarity

Background Whether bipolarity (unrecognized bipolar disorder) is related to the treatment response to lithium augmentation in antidepressant-refractory depression remains unclear. This study of responders and non-responders to lithium augmentation of 29 antidepressant-refractory patients with major depression, whom we had studied during 1995–1997, compared the bipolar diagnosis at the follow-up based on diagnostic confirmation after long-term follow-up. Methods Before being classified as stage 2 treatment-resistant depression, these patients had been treated adequately with at least two tricyclic or heterocyclic antidepressants from different pharmacological classes (a minimum of the equivalent of 150 mg of imipramine for 4 weeks). During 1995–1997, 29 patients received lithium augmentation. Their treatment responses were recorded. Mean follow-up was 8.0 years (range, 1–13 years). Bipolar conversion and full remission were evaluated. Results After the long-term follow-up, diagnoses were changed to bipolar depression in 3 of 4 lithium responders and 3 of 25 lithium non-responders; lithium augmentation was more effective for unrecognized bipolar patients. Only the family history of bipolar disorder predicted subsequent bipolar conversion. Limitations Treatment was not controlled in this naturalistic study, which had a small sample size. Conclusions Results of this long-term follow-up study suggest that bipolarity is related to a positive response to lithium augmentation in stage 2 treatment-resistant major depression. The family history of bipolar disorder suggests false unipolar depression, and therefore indicates lithium responders.

Manic symptoms in patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders

Background Previous studies found that patients with depressive disorders frequently have lifetime manic symptoms or even an unrecognized bipolar disorder and that these patients have more severe illness. In this study we investigated whether the presence of significant manic symptoms among patients presenting with depressive and/or anxiety disorders is associated with more severe illness, more comorbidity, more suicidality and more atypical symptoms. Methods In a large cohort ( n = 2012) of persons with lifetime depressive and/or anxiety disorders (as confirmed with the Composite International Diagnostic interview (CIDI)) we used the 15-item Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) to assess the presence of lifetime manic symptoms. Patients with clinically recognized bipolar disorders were excluded from the study. Results Lifetime manic symptoms were present among 6.3% of the persons with depressive or anxiety disorders. Persons with lifetime manic symptoms more frequently had comorbid social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence, more frequently reported previous serious suicide attempts and their current depressive symptoms were more severe. Atypical depression symptoms were not more prevalent in persons with lifetime manic symptoms. Limitations The presence of a lifetime manic or hypomanic episode was not assessed with the CIDI. Conclusions Identifying lifetime manic symptoms with the MDQ in persons presenting with (unipolar) depressive or anxiety disorders, can not only help the recognition of actual bipolar disorder (as described in previous studies), but also the identification of a subgroup of patients with more severe symptomatology, more comorbid anxiety and alcohol dependence disorders, and more suicidality.

A Model of the Economic Impact of a Bipolar Disorder Screening Program in Primary Care

Unrecognized bipolar disorder in patients presenting with a major depressive episode may lead to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and excessive costs. This study models the cost effectiveness of screening for bipolar disorder among adults presenting for the first time with symptoms of major depressive disorder. A decision-analysis model was used to evaluate the outcomes and cost over 5 years of screening versus not screening for bipolar disorder. Screening was defined as a 1-time administration of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire at the initial visit followed by referral to a psychiatrist for patients screening positive for bipolar disorder. Health states included correctly diagnosed bipolar disorder, unrecognized bipolar disorder, and correctly diagnosed major depressive episodes. Model outcomes included rates of correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder and discounted costs (2006 US dollars) of screening and treating major depressive episodes. Literature was the primary source of data and was collected from September 2007 through March 2009. According to the model, 1,000 adults in a health plan with 1 million adult members annually present with symptoms of major depressive disorder. An additional 38 patients were correctly diagnosed with depression (unipolar or a major depressive episode) or bipolar disorder (440 with screening vs 402 without screening) through a 1-time screening for bipolar disorder. Estimated 5-year discounted costs per patient were $36,044 without screening and $34,107 with screening (savings of $1,937). Accordingly, total 5-year budgetary savings were estimated at $1.94 million. Results were most sensitive to difference in treatment costs for patients with recognized versus unrecognized bipolar disorder. A 1-time screening program for bipolar disorder, when patients first present with a major depressive episode, can reduce health care costs to managed-care plans.

A high lethality suicide attempt in a patient with unrecognized bipolar disorder: A case report

Article A high lethality suicide attempt in a patient with unrecognized bipolar disorder: A case report was published on March 1, 2009 in the journal International Journal on Disability and Human Development (volume 8, issue 1).

Mood Disorders in Family Practice: Beyond Unipolarity to Bipolarity.

Primary care physicians increasingly have treated depressive disorders over the last decade. Unrecognized bipolar disorder, sometimes misdiagnosed as unipolar depression, may lead to treatment resistance or nonresponse. We describe differences between unipolar and bipolar disorders, focusing on recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of bipolar spectrum disorders such as bipolar I, bipolar II, antidepressant-induced mania, and cyclothymia. Broadening the understanding of these different disorders and their presentation in primary care settings can enable earlier and more targeted treatment. Though 3 mood stabilizers are U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved for treatment of acute mania, no medications are currently approved for treating bipolar depression.