Bipolar disorder Flashcards
Point prevalence of bipolar disorder
1.5%
Average age of onset of bipolar disorder
18-20
Increased risk of suicide among people with bipolar disorder compared to the general population
15-18x higher
Lifetime prevalence of bipolar I
1.0%
Lifetime prevalence of bipolar II
1.1%
Lifetime prevalence of subsyndromal bipolar spectrum
2.4%
Differences between bipolar I and bipolar II
Bipolar I has one or more manic or mixed episodes and typically has recurrent depressive episodes
Bipolar II must have at least one hypomanic episode and at least one depressive episode
Description of bipolar III
Recurrent depression with hypomania occurring only with antidepressants or other treatment
Percentage of patients with bipolar disorder who were previously misdiagnosed as having depression
40%
Stability of a bipolar diagnosis
70-91%
Average length of time to recover from a treated episode of mania
4-5 weeks
Percentage of patients with bipolar who show predominantly either depression or mania
56%
Of patients with bipolar who show polarity in their symtpoms, percentage who show mainly depressive symptoms
60%
Of patients with bipolar who show polarity in their symtpoms, percentage who show mainly manic symptoms
40%
Percentage of patients with bipolar who complete suicide
10-19%
Percentage of patients with bipolar who attempt suicide
25-35%
Percentage of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar which occur in the depressed phase
80%
Percentage of patients with bipolar who have a recurrence in the year following a mood episode
50%
Type of bipolar where patients experience more depressive symptoms
Bipolar II
Biggest predictor of relapse for patients with bipolar
Residual symptoms
Index mood disorder in bipolar that leads to patients spending less time unwell
Mania
Term for antidepressant induced mania
Switch
Term for when antidepressants over time increase the long-term frequency of manic episodes
Mood destabilisation
Percentage of patients with bipolar who show antidepressant switch
20-40%
Risk factors for antidepressant switch in patients with bipolar
Previous antidepressant induced mania
Bipolar family history
Exposure to multiple antidepressants
Initial illness beginning in adolescence or young adulthood
Features of bipolar depression compared to unipolar depression
Bipolar depression shows less anxiety, fewer physical complaints, hypersomnia, more withdrawal, and more atypical symptoms
Definition of rapid cycling bipolar disorder
4 or more episodes within a year
Definition of ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder
4 or more episodes within a month
Definition of ultra-ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder
Switches within one day on four or more days per week
Percentage of patients with bipolar who are rapid cyclers
20%
Percentage of patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder who are women
80%
Clinical features of rapid cycling compared to standard bipolar disorder
Earlier onset of illness in rapid cycling
More severe depression and mania in rapid cycling
Lower global functioning in rapid cycling
Risk factors for rapid cycling
Hypothyroidism
Poor response to lithium
Younger age of onset
Substance misuse
Most commonly prescribed medications associated with secondary mania
Corticosteroids
L-dopa
Number of days of symptoms required for a diagnosis of mania
7 days
Number of days of symptoms required for a diagnosis of hypomania
4 days
First line treatment in a first episode of mania
Antipsychotics - haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone
Treatment for a first episode of mania if the patient is on antidepressants
Consider stopping the antidepressant
Treat with an antipsychotic regardless of whether the antidepressant is stopped
First line treatment in an episode of mania where the patient is known to have bipolar and is already on a mood stabiliser
Increase the dose of the mood stabiliser
Treatment options in an episode of mania where the patient is known to have bipolar
Increase the dose of the mood stabiliser (first line)
Augment the mood stabiliser with an antipsychotic if taking lithium or valproate
If already taking an antipsychotic - augment with lithium or valproate
ECT
When to consider ECT in an episode of mania where the patient is known to have bipolar
Severely unwell patients
Treatment-resistant mania
Patient preference
Pregnant women
Psychotropic with the highest risk of hyponatraemia
Carbamazepine
First line treatments for bipolar depression
Psychological intervention
Fluoxetine combined with lithium
Quetiapine monotherapy
Second line medication for bipolar depression
Lamotrigine - can be used in combination or as monotherapy
NICE recommendations for when to use long term maintenance management for patients with bipolar
After a manic episode with significant risk or adverse consequences
Bipolar I when there have been two manic episodes
Bipolar II when there is significant functional impairment or risk
First line treatment for long term maintenance of bipolar disorder
Lithium