ScienceDaily: Bipolar Disorder News

Psychiatric disorders linked to a protein involved in the formation of long-term memories

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:45:45 EDT

Scientists have discovered a protein that regulates synaptic ion channels that have been tied to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Neuroimaging may offer new way to diagnose bipolar disorder

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EDT

MRI may be an effective way to diagnose mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, according to experts.

Networks of neurons in brain are disrupted in psychiatric disease

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:18 EDT

Studying the networks of connections in the brains of people affected by schizophrenia, bipolar disease or depression has allowed researchers to gain a better understanding of the biological basis of these important diseases. They have shown that different networks, found specifically in humans, are disrupted in different psychiatric diseases.

Flu in pregnancy may quadruple child's risk for bipolar disorder

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Flu in pregnant mothers has been linked to a nearly fourfold increased risk that their child might develop bipolar disorder in adulthood. The findings add to mounting evidence of possible shared underlying causes and illness processes with schizophrenia, which some studies have also linked to prenatal exposure to influenza.

Do drugs for bipolar disorder 'normalize' brain gene function?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:58:58 EDT

Every day, millions of people with bipolar disorder take medicines to stabilize their moods. But just how these drugs work is still a mystery. Now, a new study of brain tissue helps reveal what might actually be happening. And further research using stem cells programmed to act like brain cells is already underway.

Postpartum depression: Surprising rate of women depressed after baby

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EDT

A surprisingly high number of women have postpartum depression, reports a new, large-scale study of 10,000 women. A high rate of women had considered harming themselves. The study's screening likely saved several lives. Most postpartum women with depression are not identified or treated even though they are at a higher risk for psychiatric disorders. It's a major public health problem because a woman's mental health affects her child's physical and emotional development.

Family intervention improves mood symptoms in children and adolescents at risk for bipolar disorder

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:41:41 EST

Psychologists have found that children and adolescents with major depression or subthreshold forms of bipolar disorder - and who had at least one first-degree relative with bipolar disorder - responded better to a 12-session family-focused treatment than to a briefer educational treatment.

New gene variant may explain psychotic features in bipolar disorder

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:07:07 EST

Researchers have found an explanation for why the level of kynurenic acid (KYNA) is higher in the brains of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease with psychosis. The study identifies a gene variant associated with an increased production of KYNA.

How do happiness and sadness circuits contribute to bipolar disorder?

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:25:25 EST

Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder characterized by unpredictable and dramatic mood swings between the highs of mania and lows of depression. These mood episodes occur among periods of 'normal mood', termed euthymia. Prior research has clearly shown that brain emotion circuitry is dysregulated in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It is thought that these disturbances impair one's ability to control emotion and contribute to mood episodes. Investigators have now used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate which areas of the brain showed abnormal activation while patients in different mood phases of bipolar disorder tried to control their response to emotional and non-emotional material.

Brain imaging identifies bipolar disorder risk in adolescents

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:26:26 EST

Australian researchers have used brain imaging technology to show that young people with a known risk of bipolar (but as yet have no signs of the condition) have clear and quantifiable differences in brain activity when compared to controls.

First study of new treatment for early stage bipolar disorder

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:13:13 EST

A new clinical trial of people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for less than five years will be the first study of its kind to shed light on how new treatments could be more effective in the early stages of the condition.

Pregnancy and birth complications more likely in mothers with bipolar disorder

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:58:58 EST

Babies born to mothers with bipolar disorder are at increased risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks), a new study suggests.

Link between creativity and mental illness confirmed in large-scale Swedish study

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:49:49 EDT

People in creative professions are treated more often for mental illness than the general population, there being a particularly salient connection between writing and schizophrenia, according to researchers whose large-scale Swedish registry study is the most comprehensive ever in its field.

Replicating risk genes in bipolar disorder

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:54:54 EDT

One of the biggest challenges in psychiatric genetics has been to replicate findings across large studies. Scientists have now performed one of the largest ever genetic replication studies of bipolar affective disorder, with 28,000 subjects recruited from 36 different research centers. Their findings provide compelling evidence that the chromosome 3p21.1 locus contains a common genetic risk for bipolar disorder, the PBRM1 gene.

Scientists pinpoint gene variations linked to higher risk of bipolar disorder

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:14:14 EDT

Scientists 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.

Giving lithium to those who need it

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:25:25 EDT

Lithium is a ‘gold standard’ drug for treating bipolar disorder, however not everyone responds in the same way. New research finds that this is true at the levels of gene activation, especially in the activation or repression of genes which alter the level the apoptosis (programmed cell death). Most notably BCL2, known to be important for the therapeutic effects of lithium, did not increase in non-responders. This can be tested in the blood of patients within four weeks of treatment.

Flying high: Researchers decipher manic gene

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:49:49 EDT

Flying high, or down in the dumps -- individuals suffering from bipolar disorder alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Researchers have now discovered, based on patient data and animal models, how the NCAN gene results in the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Making sense out of the biological matrix of bipolar disorder

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:09:09 EDT

The more that we understand the brain, the more complex it becomes. The same can be said about the genetics and neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. Researchers have now utilized an integrative approach to probe the biology of bipolar disorder.

Autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may share common underlying factors, family histories suggest

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:02:02 EDT

New research points to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders among individuals whose parents or siblings have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Ketamine improved bipolar depression within minutes, study suggests

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:02:02 EDT

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.

Research explores the positives of bipolar disorder

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:59:59 EDT

The problems of living with bipolar disorder have been well documented, but a new study has captured the views of those who also report highly-valued, positive experiences of living with the condition.

Evidence of familial vulnerability for epilepsy and psychosis

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:27:27 EDT

Although the two disorders may seem dissimilar, epilepsy and psychosis are associated. Individuals with epilepsy are more likely to have schizophrenia, and a family history of epilepsy is a risk factor for psychosis. It is not known whether the converse is true, i.e., whether a family history of psychosis is a risk factor for epilepsy.

Body clocks may hold key for treatment of bipolar disorder

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:39:39 EDT

Scientists have gained insight into why lithium salts are effective at treating bipolar disorder in what could lead to more targeted therapies with fewer side-effects.

Does Borna disease virus cause mental illness?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:56:56 EST

Over the past 30 years, numerous studies have linked Borna disease virus with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder and dementia, but study results have been inconsistent. Now, the first blinded, case-control study to examine this issue finds no association between the virus and psychiatric illness.

PCE in drinking water linked to an increased risk of mental illness, study suggests

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:30:30 EST

The solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE) widely used in industry and to dry clean clothes is a neurotoxin known to cause mood changes, anxiety, and depression in people who work with it. To date the long-term effect of this chemical on children exposed to PCE has been less clear, although there is some evidence that children of people who work in the dry cleaning industry have an increased risk of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia diagnosis associated with progressive brain changes among adolescents

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:08:08 EST

Adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychoses appear to show greater decreases in gray matter volume and increases in cerebrospinal fluid in the frontal lobe compared to healthy adolescents without a diagnosis of psychosis, according to a new report.

Rare genetic mutations linked to bipolar disorder

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:03:03 EST

Scientists report that abnormal sequences of DNA known as rare copy number variants, or CNVs, appear to play a significant role in the risk for early onset bipolar disorder.

Opioid abuse linked to mood and anxiety disorders

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:01:01 EST

Researchers find that mood and anxiety disorders are highly associated with non-medical prescription opioid use.

Post-partum psychiatric episodes associated with increased risk of developing bipolar affective disorder, study finds

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:58:58 EST

Experiencing a psychiatric episode within the first 30 days post-partum appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing bipolar affective disorder, according to a new study.

New biochemical changes found in children with ADHD

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:23:23 EST

A new study shows that children with ADHD have nearly 50 percent less of a protein that is important for attention and learning. The finding may mean that there are other biochemical disturbances in the brains of individuals with ADHD than was previously believed.

Precise early diagnosis of psychotic disorders possible

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:30:30 EDT

Functional psychosis can be diagnosed from the first indications of the patient, thanks to affective symptomatology. Depressive moods, hyperactivity and lack of concentration are affective symptoms that can present themselves during the first psychotic episodes, and the presence or absence of any of them may contribute to differentiating, at an early stage, between the different variations of the mental disease, according to new research.

Gene regulatory protein is reduced in bipolar disorder

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:23:23 EDT

A new study provides evidence that changes in gene regulation may contribute to the development of bipolar disorder. Researchers found low levels of a transcription factor in the brain's prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in postmortem samples from patients with bipolar disorder, suggesting a new target for drug therapy.

Large study finds genetic 'overlap' between schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:47:47 EDT

A worldwide consortium has discovered that common genetic variants contribute to a person's risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These studies provide new molecular evidence that 11 regions are strongly associated with these diseases, including six regions not previously observed.

Twin study reveals epigenetic alterations of psychiatric disorders

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT

In the first study to systematically investigate genome-wide epigenetic differences in a large number of psychosis discordant twin-pairs, new research provides further evidence that epigenetic processes play an important role in neuropsychiatric disease. The findings may offer potential new avenues for treatment.

Common genetic contributions to mental illness discovered

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:47:47 EDT

This study of more than 50,000 adults ages 18 and older provides new molecular evidence that 11 DNA regions in the human genome have strong association with these diseases, including six regions not previously observed.

Common genetic variations linked to both schizophrenia and bipolar risk

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:47:47 EDT

Common genetic variants contribute to the risk of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, an international research consortium has discovered. A team of scientists has found new molecular evidence that 11 genetic regions have strong links with these diseases, including six regions not previously observed. The researchers also found that many of these DNA variations contribute to both diseases.

The emotional brain in youth: Research suggests how to diagnose and treat mood disorders in children and adolescents

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:03:03 EDT

In recent years, a considerable increase in the number of children and adolescents evaluated, diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder has been noted. Bipolar-like symptoms are quite frequent in prepubertal children, but the age at which bipolar disorder can first be diagnosed remains controversial. Current neurobiological findings have advanced our understanding of emotional function and dysfunction in youth.

Major brain similarities found in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:02:02 EDT

Researchers have conducted a study which has found striking brain similarities in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Can feeling too good be bad? Positive emotion in bipolar disorder

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:21:21 EDT

Positive emotions like joy and compassion are good for your mental and physical health, and help foster creativity and friendship. But people with bipolar disorder seem to have too much of a good thing. A new article explores how positive emotion may become negative in bipolar disorder.

Report offers hope to people diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:11:11 EDT

Mood swings are not always best understood as an illness called 'bipolar disorder', and medication is not the only way to cope with them, says a new report from the UK. The report offers new hope to people diagnosed with bipolar disorder (about 1 to 2 percent of the population).

Fish oil may have positive effects on mood, alcohol craving, new study shows

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:17:17 EDT

Omega 3 fatty acids may be beneficial for more than just the heart. Researchers have found at a molecular level a potential therapeutic benefit from these dietary supplements for treating alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorders.

Bipolar disorder and postural control: Mind-body connection suggests new directions for treatment, research

Tue, 24 May 2011 11:13:13 EDT

A new study suggests that postural control problems may be a core feature of bipolar disorder, not just a random symptom, and can provide insights both into areas of the brain affected by the psychiatric disorder and new potential targets for treatment. The findings raises the question of whether therapies that improve motor symptoms may also help mood disorders.

Children of bipolar parents are overly sensitive to stress hormone cortisol, study finds

Thu, 05 May 2011 10:33:33 EDT

Children whose mother or father is affected by bipolar disorder may need to keep their stress levels in check. A new international study suggests the stress hormone cortisol is a key player in the mood disorder. The findings are the first to show that cortisol is elevated more readily in these children in response to the stressors of normal everyday life.

Limitations of evidence base for prescribing aripiprazole in maintenance therapy of bipolar disorder

Tue, 03 May 2011 17:17:17 EDT

The evidence base for the prescribing of aripiprazole in maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder is limited to a single trial, sponsored by the manufacturer of aripiprazole, according to a rigorous appraisal of the evidence for its use.

Mood swings of bipolar patients can be predicted, study shows

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:17:17 EDT

The future mood swings of people with bipolar disorder can be predicted by their current thoughts and behavior, a study has found.

Genetic link to attempted suicide identified

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:12:12 EDT

A study of thousands of people with bipolar disorder suggests that genetic risk factors may influence the decision to attempt suicide. Researchers have identified a small region on chromosome 2 that is associated with increased risk for attempted suicide. This small region contains four genes, including the ACP1 gene, and the researchers found more than normal levels of the ACP1 protein in the brains of people who had committed suicide. This protein is thought to influence the same biological pathway as lithium, a medication known to reduce the rate of suicidal behavior.

Prevalence and severity of bipolar disorder worldwide

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:19:19 EST

Despite international variation in prevalence rates of bipolar spectrum disorder, the severity and associated disorders are similar and treatment needs are often unmet, especially in low-income countries, according to a new article.

Susceptibility factor for bipolar disorder identified

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:16:16 EST

A new study provides fascinating insight into the genetic basis of bipolar disorder, a highly heritable mood disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. The research identifies a previously unrecognized susceptibility factor for bipolar disorder.

New clue to the genetics of bipolar disorder: Piccolo

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:24:24 EST

Understanding the genetics of bipolar disorder could lead to new treatments, but identifying specific genetic variations associated with this disorder has been challenging. A new study implicates a brain protein called Piccolo in the risk for inheriting bipolar disorder. In the orchestra of neuronal proteins, Piccolo is a member of a protein family that includes another protein called Bassoon. Piccolo is located at the endings of nerve cells, where it contributes to the ability of nerve cells to release their chemical messengers.

Treatment for manic-depressive illness restores brain volume deficits

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:31:31 EST

Lithium, introduced in the late 1940's, was the first "wonder drug" in psychiatry. It was the first medication treatment for the manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder and it remains among one of the most effective treatments for this disorder. In the past 15 years, as molecular mechanisms underlying the treatment of bipolar disorder began to emerge, basic research studies conducted in animals began to identify neuroprotective and perhaps neurotrophic effects of this important medication.

People with severe mental illness 12 times more likely to commit suicide

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:17:17 EST

People with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are 12 times more likely to commit suicide than average, according to new research.

Psychotic-like symptoms associated with poor outcomes in patients with depression

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:17:17 EST

Among patients with depression, the presence of many aspects of illness which may be associated with bipolar disorder does not appear to be associated with treatment resistance -- evidence against the common hypothesis that some cases of difficult-to-treat depression are actually unrecognized bipolar disorder, according to a new study.

Veterans with bipolar disorder may have increased risk of suicide

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:18:18 EDT

Veterans diagnosed with any psychiatric illness appear to have an elevated risk of suicide, and men with bipolar disorder and women with substance abuse disorders may have a particularly high risk, according to a new study.

Brain imaging identifies differences in childhood bipolar disorder, ADHD

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:12:12 EDT

Researchers are now using brain imaging to examine the effects of emotion on working memory function in children with pediatric bipolar disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Bipolar disorder does not increase risk of violent crime, Swedish study suggests

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:36:36 EDT

A new study from Sweden suggests that bipolar disorder -- or manic-depressive disorder -- does not increase the risk of committing violent crime. Instead, the over-representation of individuals with bipolar disorder in violent crime statistics is almost entirely attributable to concurrent substance abuse.

Ketamine may relieve depression quickly for those with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:54:54 EDT

A single intravenous dose of the anesthetic agent ketamine appears to reduce symptoms of depression within 40 minutes among those with bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments.

Possible mechanism identified for how lithium treats bipolar disorder

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:24:24 EDT

Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for manic depression, clinically termed bipolar disorder. However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly why it is beneficial. Now, new research suggests a possible mechanism for why lithium works, opening the door for better understanding of the illness and potentially more effective treatments.

Links between hypertension, bipolar disorders identified

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:17:17 EDT

Nearly half of patients hospitalized with bipolar disorder may suffer from hypertension, and the younger a person is diagnosed with the psychiatric condition the more likely they are to develop high blood pressure, according to a recent study. The research analyzed 99 patients hospitalized for bipolar disorder, a condition sometimes called manic-depressive disorder.

Uncovering lithium's mode of action

Fri, 21 May 2010 19:14:14 EDT

Though it has been prescribed for over 50 years to treat bipolar disorder, there are still many questions regarding exactly how lithium works. Researchers have provided solid evidence that lithium reduces brain inflammation by adjusting the metabolism of the health-protective omega-3 fatty acid called DHA.

Proposed diagnostic change not enough to help children currently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, experts say

Wed, 19 May 2010 17:30:30 EDT

Shifting children from the controversial diagnosis of bipolar disorder to one that more accurately reflects their symptoms, called temper dysregulation disorder with dysphoria, will not by new commentary.