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The secret life of manic depression: everything you need to know about bipolar disorder
- Author:
- SYRETT Michel
- Publisher:
- BBC Learning and Interactive
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness, but if it is well managed, with help from family, friends, support groups and health professionals, then a person with bipolar can lead a productive and satisfying life. Many well-known people, from the composer Robert Schumann to the American actress and writer Carrie Fisher, have lived or live with the condition. Bipolar disorder need not ruin your life: many people who manage bipolar disorder responsibly are married, have families, work, study and pursue pastimes of their choice.
Free to fly: a story of manic depression
- Author:
- KWOK Caroline Fei-Yeng
- Publisher:
- Inclusion Press
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 221p.
- Place of publication:
- Toronto
The author has had first hand experience with mental illness and has put that experience into words so that everyone can benefit. She describes her difficult times, her treatments and her mis-treatments. She also describes her recovery. The inner world of someone with bipolar disorder, stigmas associated with mental disorders, strengths and weaknesses of the mental health care system, and importance of cultural factors in mental health are told in a vivid manner.
Beryl's journey
- Authors:
- ALPHA FILMS, (Producer), IZZARD Beryl, (Author)
- Publisher:
- Alpha Films
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- (12 mins.), DVD
- Place of publication:
- Ipswich
In this short film we meet Beryl, a poet who has written about her experiences of life with bipolar disorder. Through readings of eight of her poems, and her commentaries on each of them, we learn how it feels to be high, low, and out of control, and what has helped and hindered when she's been unwell.
Sustained attention and executive functions in euthymic young people with bipolar disorder
- Authors:
- KOLUR U. S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(5), November 2006, pp.453-458.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Persistent neuropsychological impairments have been reported in the euthymic phase of bipolar affective disorder. However, the findings have been confounded by multiple episodes, chronic illness and residual mood symptoms. The aim was to assess sustained attention and executive functioning in euthymic young people with bipolar I disorder who had had no more than two affective episodes. Thirty euthymic patients (with illness duration of less than 5 years and no more than two affective episodes) and 30 matched healthy individuals were assessed for sustained attention and executive functioning. The bipolar group (mean age 22.4 years, s.d.=2.52; duration of illness 20.87 months, s.d.=14.72), showed impairment on tasks of attention and executive functioning. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that deficits in executive functioning differentiated cases from controls. There was no correlation between residual depressive symptoms and neuropsychological performance. Deficits in attention and executive functioning were present in young people who had experienced only a few episodes of bipolar disorder, suggesting that the deficits are possibly trait abnormalities. Whether these deficits worsen with progression of illness needs to be examined in longitudinal studies.
Culture and assessment of manic symptoms
- Authors:
- MACKIN Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(4), October 2006, pp.379-380.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Cultural background may influence the perception of psychiatric symptoms. We examined the effects of cultural biases on the identification of manic symptoms using the Young Mania Rating Scale. Two video interviews, each with an American person with mania, were shown to psychiatrists from three countries (US, UK and India). Total scores on the scale differed significantly between the US and UK (P<0.001) and between India and UK (P<0.001) rater groups. Overall, differences between India and US rater groups were less marked (P=0.28). These differences suggest that cultural biases influence the interpretation of manic symptoms
Cognitive impairment in bipolar II disorder
- Authors:
- TORRENT Carla, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(3), September 2006, pp.254-259.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Persistent impairments in neurocognitive function have been described in bipolar disorder. The aim was to compare the cognitive performance of patients with bipolar II disorder with that of patients with bipolar I disorder and a healthy control group. The study included 71 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (38 bipolar I, 33 bipolar II), who were compared on clinical and neuropsychological variables (e.g. executive function, attention, verbal and visual memory) and contrasted with 35 healthy controls on cognitive performance. Compared with controls, both bipolar groups showed significant deficits in most cognitive tasks including working memory (DigitSpan Backwards, P=0.002) and attention (DigitSpan Forwards, P=0.005; Trail Making Test, P=0.001). Those with type II disorders had an intermediate level of performance between the bipolar I group and the control group in verbal memory (P<0.005) and executive functions. Cognitive impairment exists in both subtypes of bipolar disorder, although more so in the bipolar I group. The best predictors of poor psychosocial functioning in bipolar II disorder were subclinical depressive symptoms, early onset of illness and poor performance on a measure related to executive function
Sub-syndromal and syndromal symptoms in the longitudinal course of bipolar disorder
- Authors:
- PAYKEL Eugenee, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(2), August 2006, pp.118-123.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
There have been few detailed longitudinal symptom studies of bipolar disorder. The aim was to describe the course of bipolar disorder over 18 months in 204 patients receiving mental healthcare. Patients were interviewed every 8 weeks, with weekly ratings of depression, mania and overall severity. Participants were symptomatic 53% of the time, with sub-syndromal symptoms present for twice as long as major disorder, and depressive symptoms three times more than manic symptoms. Individuals who were experiencing an episode at baseline spent 33% of the 18 months with substantial sub-syndromal symptoms, 17% with major disorder and 28% symptom free. Those not experiencing a baseline episode spent twice as long symptom free and half as long at disorder levels. Changes in symptom level were frequent. Predictors of sub-syndromal symptoms were similar to those of major disorder. Sub-syndromal residual symptoms are an important problem in recurrent bipolar disorder and require therapeutic intervention
Prospective 12-month course of bipolar disorder in out-patients with and without comorbid anxiety disorders
- Authors:
- OTTO M. W., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(1), July 2006, pp.20-25.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The impact of anxiety disorders has not been well delineated in prospective studies of bipolar disorder. The aim was to examine the association between anxiety and course of bipolar disorder, as defined by mood episodes, quality of life and role functioning. A thousand out-patients with bipolar disorder were followed prospectively for 1 year. A current comorbid anxiety disorder (present in 31.9% of participants) was associated with fewer days well, a lower likelihood of timely recovery from depression, risk of earlier relapse, lower quality of life and diminished role function over I year of prospective study. The negative impact was greater with multiple anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders, including those present during relative euthymia, predicted a poorer bipolar course. The detrimental effects of anxiety were not simply a feature of mood state. Treatment studies targeting anxiety disorders will help to clarify the nature of the impact of anxiety on bipolar course.
Exposure to obstetric complications and subsequent development of bipolar disorder: systematic review
- Authors:
- SCOTT Jan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(1), July 2006, pp.3-11.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Research has suggested an association between obstetric complications and bipolar disorder. However, no quantitative evaluation has been made of the pooled data from existing studies. The aim was to systematically review studies comparing exposure to obstetric complications in cases of bipolar disorder v. non-psychiatric controls, and in cases of bipolar disorder v. cases of other mental disorders. Publications were identified by computer searches of seven databases, by hand searches of reference lists and from raw data received from researchers. Forty-six studies were identified, of which 22 met the inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratio for exposure to obstetric complications and subsequent development of bipolar disorder was 1.01 compared with healthy controls, 1.13 compared with cases of unipolar disorder and 0.61 compared with those who developed schizophrenia. There is no robust evidence that exposure to obstetric complications increases the risk of developing bipolar disorder. However, the range of events regarded as obstetric complications and methodological inadequacies make definitive conclusions difficult.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy for severe and recurrent bipolar disorders: randomised controlled trial
- Authors:
- SCOTT Jan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(4), April 2006, pp.313-320.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Efficacy trials suggest that structured psychological therapies may significantly reduce recurrence rates of major mood episodes in individuals with bipolar disorders. The aims to compare the effectiveness of treatment as usual with an additional 22 sessions of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT). The authors undertook a multicentre, pragmatic, randomised controlled treatment trial (n=253). Patients were assessed every 8 weeks for 18 months. More than half of the patients had a recurrence by 18 months, with no significant differences between groups (hazard ratio=1.05; 95% CI 0.74–1.50). Post hoc analysis demonstrated a significant interaction (P=0.04) such that adjunctive CBT was significantly more effective than treatment as usual in those with fewer than 12 previous episodes, but less effective in those with more episodes. People with bipolar disorder and comparatively fewer previous mood episodes may benefit from CBT. However, such cases form the minority of those receiving mental healthcare.