Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Latest Bipolar Disorder News and Research

Amygdala volume reduced in schizophrenia, not psychotic BD

Amygdala volume is reduced in patients with schizophrenia compared with those who have psychotic bipolar disorder, researchers report.

22 Jun 2012

Cognitive function worse in pediatric BD I than II

Children with bipolar I disorder have significantly poorer cognitive functioning than those with bipolar II disorder, research shows.

21 Jun 2012

Study to test NAC and aspirin for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder

A commonly available pharmaceutical drug with anti-inflammatory properties and a nutritional supplement thought to have antioxidant effects are now being tested at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) as add-on therapies for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

21 Jun 2012

Study identifies critical neurological factor in aggression

Pathological rage can be blocked in mice, researchers have found, suggesting potential new treatments for severe aggression, a widespread trait characterized by sudden violence, explosive outbursts and hostile overreactions to stress.

20 Jun 2012

Mania symptom profile changes with age

A review of published studies shows that there are significant age-group differences in the prominence of specific symptoms of mania among patients with bipolar disorder.

15 Jun 2012

Preterm birth increases psychiatric disorder risk

Individuals born preterm are at increased risk for a range of psychiatric disorders in young adulthood, researchers report.

14 Jun 2012

Reproductive stage progression linked to worsening bipolar disorder

Results from a US study of women with bipolar disorder suggests that the illness may worsen with progression toward the later stages of reproductive life.

13 Jun 2012

NMDA antibodies increased in mania patients

Patients with bipolar disorder show increased levels of antibodies to the NR2 subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor during periods of acute mania, researchers report.

12 Jun 2012

Mania develops in late adolescence

There is an increasing prevalence of bipolar disorder over adolescence, with late adolescence the peak period for the development of mania, research shows.

8 Jun 2012

Pathophysiologic differences evident between schizophrenia, bipolar

Review findings reveal differences in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, relating specifically to the medial temporal lobe and associated limbic regions.

7 Jun 2012

Factors linked to relapse risk in bipolar disorder identified

A higher number of previous mood episodes and living in a mixed urban/rural area are associated with an increased risk for relapse in patients with bipolar disorder, Spanish researchers report.

1 Jun 2012

Feds announce effort to slash inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes

An estimated 40 percent of nursing home residents with dementia receive the drugs, which are approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

1 Jun 2012

Obstetric, perinatal difficulties ‘not linked to bipolar disorder risk’

Results from a US study indicate that obstetric and perinatal difficulties are not associated with an increased risk for bipolar disorder in children.

31 May 2012

Ketamine reduces suicidal thoughts in patients with bipolar depression

Bipolar disorder is a serious and debilitating condition where individuals experience severe swings in mood between mania and depression. The episodes of low or elevated mood can last days or months, and the risk of suicide is high. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to treat or prevent the depressive episodes, but they are not universally effective. Many patients still continue to experience periods of depression even while being treated, and many patients must try several different types of antidepressants before finding one that works for them.

31 May 2012

Anxiety increases symptom severity in acute mania patients

Anxiety is common in patients experiencing an episode of acute mania and is associated with more severe mood symptoms, researchers report.

30 May 2012

Large survey of genetic variation offers insights into human diseases

A large survey of human genetic variation, published today in the online version of the journal Science, shows that rare genetic variants are not so rare after all and offers insights into human diseases.

19 May 2012

Reducing off-label antipsychotic use may generate savings with little impact on patient care

Reducing the non-FDA-approved use of antipsychotic drugs may be a way to save money while having little effect on patient care, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study.

16 May 2012

MAGI genes play a role in psychiatric disease

These findings are not about the classic story of gift-giving, although the MAGI genes (officially named membrane associated guanylate kinase, WW and PDZ domain containing proteins) do influence brain function in important ways.

11 May 2012

Study shows effects of psychotropic drug treatment on brain morphology

It is increasingly recognized that chronic psychotropic drug treatment may lead to structural remodeling of the brain. Indeed, clinical studies in humans present an intriguing picture: antipsychotics, used for the treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis, may contribute to cortical gray matter loss in patients, whereas lithium, used for the treatment of bipolar disorder and mania, may preserve gray matter in patients.

9 May 2012

Rare form of dementia eats away at personality and language

Michael French suffered from a rare form of dementia. It made him do unwise things like throwing away tax documents, getting a ticket for trying to pass an ambulance and buying stock in companies that were obviously in trouble. He seemed withdrawn and no longer spoke to his wife over dinner. He also lost his job at the consulting firm. This happened in 2006. His wife found he had changed suddenly from the smart, good-natured, hardworking man and was considering divorce when his ailment came into the picture.

8 May 2012