Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Latest Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Addiction and mental health burden higher than all cancers in Ontario

Mental illnesses and addictions take more of a toll on the health of Ontarians than cancer or infectious diseases, according to a new report by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and Public Health Ontario - yet this burden could be reduced with treatment, say scientists from Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

11 Oct 2012

TSRI scientists identify new gene variants closely associated with bipolar disorder

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified small variations in a number of genes that are closely linked to an increased risk of bipolar disorder, a mental illness that affects nearly six million Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

11 Oct 2012

MDD with subthreshold hypomania ‘should be merged with bipolar II’

Patients with major depressive disorder plus subthreshold hypomania exhibit significant differences in disease course, symptoms, treatment-seeking rates and other characteristics compared with those with major depression alone, research shows.

10 Oct 2012

Kynurenic acid levels increased in bipolar patients with psychotic features

Bipolar disorder patients with a history of psychotic features have higher cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of kynurenic acid (KYNA) than those without such features, research shows.

9 Oct 2012

Recombinant protein may treat male factor fertility

Male factor infertility resulting in failed oocyte activation from dysfunctional sperm phospholipase C-zeta may be remedied through the use of a recombinant form of the protein, leading to efficient blastocyst formation, say scientists.

8 Oct 2012

Prefrontal-limbic network dysfunction in depressive BD

Study findings suggest that patients in the depressive phase of bipolar disorder show dysfunction in prefrontal-limbic networks and associated striatal systems, which can be measured using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations.

5 Oct 2012

The New York Times articles address harsh realities of what happens when addiction hits home

In Tuesday's health section of The New York Times, "When a Drug Addict Isn't Ready to Accept Help" and "In Business, Nondrinking Can Be a Costly Expense," both articles address the harsh realities of what happens when addiction hits home.

5 Oct 2012

Comorbid physical, psychiatric disorders common in BD

Findings from the Singapore Mental Health Study show that over two-thirds of individuals with bipolar disorder have other lifetime mental disorders, with approximately half also experiencing at least one chronic physical condition.

4 Oct 2012

Court approves Abbott settlement for wrongly marketing Depakote

The pharmaceutical company will pay $1.5 billion for marketing the drug for non-approved uses.

4 Oct 2012

Roundup: Individual mandate back on Fla. ballot; More Mass. doctors embrace new payment methods; Ga. hospital tax fight rages on

In a bid to remake Florida's judiciary, Republicans are asking voters to oust three state Supreme Court justices and give the Legislature greater power over Supreme Court appointments. ... In Florida, the issue is not same-sex marriage but another politically divisive matter: President Obama's health care law. In a 2010 ruling, the Florida Supreme Court removed from the ballot a nonbinding amendment allowing Floridians to refuse to buy mandatory health insurance.

4 Oct 2012

Antifungal resistance of Candida genital isolates on the increase

Resistance to antifungal therapy of genital-infection causing Candida species may be an increasing problem, suggests research presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology annual congress in Prague, Czech Republic.

3 Oct 2012

Routine screening influences outcomes in prostate cancer after surgery

Men who undergo radical prostatectomy for a tumor that was detected by screening show better long-term outcomes than their peers who undergo the surgery after opportunistic diagnosis, study results show.

3 Oct 2012

Differentiating features of BD, early-onset ADHD identified

Research findings published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology have identified differentiating features between early-onset bipolar disorder and combined attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

3 Oct 2012

Biopolar disorder screening uncovers hidden anxiety

Patients who receive a false-positive diagnosis during screening tests for bipolar disorder are likely to have an undiagnosed anxiety disorder, suggest findings published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

2 Oct 2012

Hormone and androgen receptor genes combined affect sperm motility

The combination of alleles for genes encoding the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and androgen receptor has a significant impact on sperm motility, emphasising the importance of the genes in sperm quality, say Greek scientists.

1 Oct 2012

Genetic profile predicts postradiation erectile dysfunction

Scientists have identified a group of genetic markers that can predict the risk for erectile dysfunction after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

1 Oct 2012

BD family history risk factor for recurrent episodes in MDD

A family history of bipolar disorder increases the likelihood of recurrent episodes of hypomania or mania in individuals with prior major depressive disorder, suggest findings published in Bipolar Disorders.

1 Oct 2012

Bipolar disorder common in HIV patients

Patients with HIV are significantly more likely to have bipolar disorder than the general population, researchers report.

27 Sep 2012

Infants with regulatory behaviors or maternal psychiatric problems may have increased risk of FSS

Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) are physical complaints, such as headaches, pain, fatigue, and dizziness, that cannot be explained medically. These symptoms affect 10-30% of children and adolescents and account for 2-4% of all pediatric doctor visits.

27 Sep 2012

Bipolar patients do not show accelerated cognitive decline

Elderly patients with bipolar disorder do not show greater levels of cognitive decline over 2 years than their mentally healthy counterparts, research suggests.

26 Sep 2012