Bipolar Flashcards
Define bipolar I disorder (BDI)
A distinct period of at least one week of full manic episode: abnormally and persistently elevated mood and increased energy
Define bipolar II disorder (BDII)
A current or past hypomanic episode and a current or past major depressive episode
How do men and women compare in terms of prevalence of bipolar disoder?
Men = Women, but:
- Men have more manic episodes, women more depressive or mixed
True or False? There is a cure to bipolar disorder
False, but full recovery/maintenance is possible
The exact cause of bipolar is _______
unknown
What are 5 risk factors for developing bipolar disorder?
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Having a first-degree relative
- Period of high stress
- Medical conditions (hyperthyroidism, hormonal changes, CNS disoders, endocrine dysregulation, CVD)
- Major life changes, such as the death of a loved one or other traumatic experiences
Describe the clinical presentation of bipolar
Mood can fluctuate from euthymia where everything is normal, to hypomania –> mania then down to subthreshold depression –> major depression, and back and forth, sometimes achieving a mixed state.
What is kindling theory of bipolar disorder? (2)
- Abnormalities lead to more abnormalities
- Syndromal episodes increase vulnerability to more episodes
What is neurodegeneration?
Persistent neurocognitive deficits, increasing impairment, delayed functional recovery
What is the best predictor of level of functioning in bipolar?
Medication adherence
- ~50% of pts ds/c meds due to adverse effects
What are some comorbid conditions that may worsen existing bipolar or make treatment challenging? (5)
- Anxiety disorders
- Substance use disorder (alcohol is most common)
- ADHD
- PTSD
- Medical comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, CVD)
One of the leading causes of death in bipolar is _______
suicide
(20x higher than the general population)
What are some factors that are associated with suicide attempts in bipolar? (8)
- Female sex
- Younger age of illness onset
- Depressive polarity of 1st illness episode
- Comorbid anxiety
- Comorbid SUD
- Comorbid cluster B personality disorder
- 1st degree family history of suicide
- Previous attempt
True or False? Comprehensive assessment for suicide risk for a bipolar patient should only be done after the initial diagnosis
False - should occur during all BD patient interactions
From the DSM-5, mania is classified as persistently and abnormally elevated mood (irritable or expansive) and energy, with at least 3 of the following changes from usual behaviour: (7)
- Grandiosity or inflated self-esteem
- Decreased need for sleep
- Racing thoughts
- Increased talking/pressured speech
- Distractibility
- Increased goal-directed or psychomotor agitation
- Excessive engagement in high risk behaviours
In the DSM-5 for bipolar, not only do patients need the 3+ specific symptoms they ALSO need to have these 3 things alongside it
- Symptoms occur nearly every day for at least 1 week
- Leads to significant functional impairment OR includes psychotic features OR necessitates hospitalization
- Episode is not due to physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition
What is the DIGFAST mnemonic to help remember the mania symptoms?
Distractibility
Irritability or indiscretion
Grandiosity
Flight of ideas (racing thoughts)
Activity (or energy) increased
Sleep decreased
Talkativeness
True or False? Both manic and hypomanic episodes are required for a diagnosis of BDI in the DSM-5
False
Manic episode is required
Hypomanic or major depressive episodes may occur before or after manic episode but are NOT required for diagnosis
Essentially a hypomanic episode is the same as a manic episode but it is a shorter time period and less severe. What are the diagnostic criteria of one of these episodes? (4)
- Same symptom criteria as manic episode, but only lasting up to 4 days
- Unequivocal change in functioning or mood that is uncharacteristic of the individual and/or observable by others
- Impairment in social or occupational functioning is not severe. Hospitalization not required. No psychosis
- The episode is not due to physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition
What is the main diagnostic criteria of BDII?
Hypomanic episode AND major depressive episode (current or past episodes)
Compare and contrast: BDI vs. BDII - Duration of manic symptoms
BDI ≥7 days
BDII ≤ 4 days
Compare and contrast: BDI vs. BDII - Functional impairment
BDI: necessary
BDII: not necessary
Compare and contrast: BDI vs. BDII - Psychotic features
BDI: necessary
BDII: not necessary
Compare and contrast: BDI vs. BDII - Requires hospitalization
BDI: necessary
BDII: not necessary
Compare and contrast: BDI vs. BDII - History of depression
BDI: - nil
BDII: necessary
What type of scale is the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MARDS)?
Clinican-rated to assess severity of depression
What type of scale is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)(HAM-D)?
Clinician-rated to assess severity of depression - gold standard for clinical research
What type of scale is the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)?
Clinician-rated - used in research for screening and assessing severity of mania
What type of scale is the Mood Disorders Questionnaire?
Patient-rated. Used to screen for possible BD. Most specific for identifying BDI
What are 3 challenges in BD diagnosis and treatment?
- Delay to diagnosis
- Misdiagnosis
- Limited clinical trials
Why might there be a delay in diagnosis of BD? (3)
- Average delay 8-12 years
- Often patients do not recall hypomanic symptoms
- More likely to seek help for depression vs. mania
Why might there be misdiagnosis of BD? (3)
- Survey found that 73% of BD pts are initially misdiagnosed
- In 2000 ~30% of pts waiting 10 years for correct dx
- Most often misdiagnosis = depression - consequences include developing hypo/manic episodes and rapid cycling
Why are there limited clinical trials involving BD? (4)
- Heterogenous illness
- Co-morbidities
- Manic symptoms –> impaired judgement –> impaired adherence
- Require longitudinal assessment
ZZ is a 25yo female that presents to the emergency room today. With increased energy, no need for sleep for the past 4 days, pressured speech. Diagnosed with mania. What med on her BPMH is of concern?
a. Pregabalin
b. Prednisone
c. Pindolol
d. Pantoprazole
B
What are 8 goals of therapy for BD?
- Eliminate mood episode with complete remission of symptoms, ongoing. “Acute treatment”
- Prevent recurrences or relapses of mood episodes, ongoing. “Maintenance treatment”
- Improve quality of life and optimize psychosocial functioning, ongoing
- Minimize harm to self and others (including prevent suicide, ongoing
- Maximize adherence and minimize adverse effects of pharmacotherapy, ongoing
- Identify and minimize risk factors for mood episodes, ongoing
- Provide care for comorbid psychiatric, substance use or, medical condition, ongoing
- Provide education to patient and family members, ongoing
For mania, what is the timeline in which we see improvement from medication (response and full benefit)?
- Response = 1-2 weeks
- Full clinical benefit = 3-4 weeks
For depression, what is the timeline in which we see improvement from medication (response and full benefit)?
- Response = 2-4 weeks
- Full clinical benefit = 6-12 weeks
What are some easyish lifestyle changes to recommend a patient (non-pharm therapy) with BD? (5)
- Exercise
- Adequate sleep
- Healthy diet
- Decreased/abstinent substance use
- Decreased caffeine/nicotine/alcohol
What are some other non-pharm options to potentially try for BD patients? (7)
- Bright light - more for depression
- Relapse prevention plan
- Psychoeducation, supportive counselling, biosocial rhythm normalization, psychotherapy (CBT, interpersonal therapy)
- ECT
- Collaborative care
- Case management
- Medication adherence
What are the 3 most commonly used mood stabilizer medications used for BD?
- Lithium
- Valproic Acid/Divalproex
- Lamotrigine
What are the anticonvulsant drugs that can be used for BD? (6). Only 2 of them are really used, so why not use the other 4?
- VPA/Divalproex
- Lamotrigine
- Carbamazepine
- Oxcarbazepine (3 and 4 use is limited by ADEs and drug interactions)
- Topiramate
- Gabapentin (5 and 6 rare used as mood stabilizers due to lack of efficacy & poor tolerability)
What are the indications for lithium? (3)
- BD
- Acute mania treatment
- Prophylaxis/maintenance - Schizoaffective disorder
- Unipolar depression
- Antidepressant augmentation
While the exact mechanism of action of lithium is not fully understood, what are some examples of the multiple effects on cellular functioning it might have? (4)
- Interaction with downstream signaling cascades
- Enhances GABA activity
- Alters Ca-mediated intracellular functions
- Decreases CNS adrenergic activity
Is bioavailability of oral lithium high, medium, or low?
High
True or False? Lithium is almost completely absorbed from the small intestine
True
What is the potential issue with time to peak onset of IR lithium?
Can lead to tremors or nausea, can switch to XR if that’s the case
True or False? Lithium is bound to plasma proteins
False - not bound to plasma proteins
What should you know about lithium’s volume of distribution in the body?
It distributes evenly in the total body water space
What is the t1/2 of lithium in normal renal function?
12-27 hours (typically call it 24 hours for the sake of calculations)
How is lithium eliminated?
95% renally
It’s freely filtered by the glomerulus like Na and K, 80% reabsorbed in the proximal tubules (with sodium)
True or False? Lithium follows non-proportional dose pharmacokinetics?
False - follows linear, dose-proportional PK
What are some causes for decreased clearance of lithium in the body? (4)
- Hyponatremia
- Dehydration
- Renal failure or dysfunction
- Decreased renal blood flow
Should know the therapeutic range of lithium (in mmol/L) in the following populations:
1. Acute mania
2. Maintenance therapy
3. Elderly
- Acute mania = 1.0-1.2 mmol/L
- Maintenance therapy = 0.6-1.0 mmol/L
- Elderly = 0.6-0.8 mmol/L
When are lithium levels taken when doing bloodwork for it?
In what situation would that be different?
- 12 hour post dose level
- Take is STAT if toxicity or non-adherence is suspected
How frequent are lithium levels checked starting from initiation of therapy?
- 5-7 days after starting or changing dose, then q weekly until at stabilized dose for 2 weeks, then q monthly for up to 3 months, then at least q 6 months.
With acute mania, how often is lithium typically dosed?
Initial is 1-2 times per day then try to go with BID
With BD maintenance, once the person is stabilized on lithium they can be given once daily dosing (if able to tolerate it). What are some of the benefits/things to look out for? (4)
- Usually given at night to improve compliance
- Some trials show decrease in urine volume and decreased renal toxicity with once daily dosing
- Pts sensitive to peak related side effects may respond to XR formulations
- When Li changes from multiple daily dosing to once daily dosing, can expect ~10-25% increase in 12h Li level
When CrCl is below __, we have to adjust Li dosing
50mL/min
Can we use Li in acute renal failure?
How about dialysis?
No.
Pts undergoing dialysis should have dose after dialysis
What are 3 things that should be done if Li is at a toxic level?
- Hold dose
- Repeat plasma level next day
- Restart therapy when within target range