Catatonic postpartum paternal depression as a first debut of a bipolar disorder: a case report.

Paternal postpartum depression (PD) is considered an affective disorder that affects fathers during the months following childbirth. Interestingly, it has been observed that during these months the chances of a male parent suffering from depression are double that for a non-parent male counterpart. We present the case of a 34-year-old man with no relevant medical history in who, overlapping her daughter's birth, several depressive symptoms emerged, such as fatigue, lack of concentration, sleeping disturbances and abandonment of care of the newborn. Prior to consultation, patient refused to eat and open his eyes, and his speech became progressively more parsimonious until reaching mutism. The patient was diagnosed with a severe depressive disorder with catatonia. Given the lack of improvement with pharmacological treatment and due to the evidence of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)'s effectiveness on patients with catatonia, acute ECT treatment was indicated and started. It should be noted that PD is an important entity to consider in our differential diagnosis of young parents who present a depressive episode. Few cases of relatively young patients presenting with such clinical presentation have been described and, although this case presents some of the characteristics described in the epidemiology of PD, other clinical aspects are not typical of this entity. Informed consent was obtained from the patient for the purpose of publication.

Effects of malnutrition on length of stay in patients hospitalized in an acute psychiatric ward.

INTRODUCTION: Psychiatric patients are considered at risk for malnutrition due to pharmacological treatments, lifestyle habits and the mental illness by itself. Even though metabolic risk factors have been related to worse outcomes in certain conditions, the evidence regarding the nutritional status and its impact on the length of stay in psychiatric inpatients is scarce. This study aims to characterize the nutritional status in acute psychiatric patients, to correlate it with the length of stay, and to find specific potential indicators of malnutrition. METHODS: Adult patients admitted to the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona acute psychiatric ward throughout a 1-year period were included in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were registered, including length of stay and the nutritional status measured with the CONUT score. RESULTS: Malnutrition was observed in 42.5% of patients. Plasmatic transferrin saturation, protein and iron levels were inversely correlated with length of stay, having low iron levels an association with longer hospitalizations. The length of stay was not influenced by diagnosis or treatment. Negative correlations with the nutritional status were found in: BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, total proteins, prealbumin, iron, lymphocytes and zinc levels, and transferrin saturation. The multivariate analysis showed a significant association for cholesterol and zinc levels, lymphocyte count, and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nutritional status might influence the course of psychiatric admissions. Cholesterol and zinc levels, lymphocyte count, and BMI might be factors strongly associated with malnutrition. This consideration might allow the identification of profiles in which lifestyle interventions could be implemented.

The impact of the Catalonia Suicide Risk Code (CSRC) in a tertiary hospital: Reduction in hospitalizations and emergency room visits for any reason but not for suicide attempt.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide attempts represent a public health concern. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients visiting an emergency room for a suicide attempt and included in a suicide prevention program, the Catalonia Suicide Risk Code (CSRC), particularly focusing on the follow-up evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CSRC program is divided in 3 phases: (1) alert and activation, (2) proactive telephone and face-to-face follow-up and (3) comprehensive preventive health monitoring. This is the analysis of the sample of patients attempting or intending suicide who were seen at a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, and their 1-year follow-up outcome. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty-five patients were included. In 15% of the cases, there was no previous psychiatric history but in the majority of cases, a previous psychiatric diagnosis was present. The most common type of suicide attempt was by drug overdose (84%). Up to 66.6% of the patients attended the scheduled follow-up visit in the CSRC program. A significant reduction in the proportion of patients visiting the emergency room for any reason (but not specifically for a suicide attempt) and being hospitalized in the first semester in comparison with the second six months after the CSRC activation (30.1% versus 19.9%, p=0.006; 14.1% versus 5.8%, p=0.002) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical risk factors and the findings of the CSRC helped in the characterization of suicide attempters. The CSRC may contribute to reduce hospitalizations and the use of mental health care resources, at least in the short-term.

The U-shaped relationship between parental age and the risk of bipolar disorder in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Parenthood age may affect the risk for the development of different psychiatric disorders in the offspring, including bipolar disorder (BD). The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to appraise the relationship between paternal age and risk for BD and to explore the eventual relationship between paternal age and age at onset of BD. We searched the MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO online databases for original studies from inception, up to December 2021. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. Sixteen studies participated in the qualitative synthesis, of which k = 14 fetched quantitative data encompassing a total of 13,424,760 participants and 217,089 individuals with BD. Both fathers [adjusted for the age of other parent and socioeconomic status odd ratio - OR = 1.29(95%C.I. = 1.13-1.48)] and mothers aged ≤ 20 years [(OR = 1.23(95%C.I. = 1.14-1.33)] had consistently increased odds of BD diagnosis in their offspring compared to parents aged 25-29 years. Fathers aged ≥ 45 years [adjusted OR = 1.29 (95%C.I. = 1.15-1.46)] and mothers aged 35-39 years [OR = 1.10(95%C.I. = 1.01-1.19)] and 40 years or older [OR = 1.2(95% C.I. = 1.02-1.40)] likewise had inflated odds of BD diagnosis in their offspring compared to parents aged 25-29 years. Early and delayed parenthood are associated with an increased risk of BD in the offspring. Mechanisms underlying this association are largely unknown and may involve a complex interplay between psychosocial, genetic and biological factors, and with different impacts according to sex and age range. Evidence on the association between parental age and illness onset is still tentative but it points towards a possible specific effect of advanced paternal age on early BD-onset.

Lithium therapy and weight change in people with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lithium remains the gold standard maintenance treatment for Bipolar Disorder (BD). However, weight gain is a side effect of increasing relevance due to its metabolic implications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at summarizing evidence on the use of lithium and weight change in BD. We followed the PRISMA methodology, searching Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science. From 1003 screened references, 20 studies were included in the systematic review and 9 included in the meta-analysis. In line with the studies included in the systematic review, the meta-analysis revealed that weight gain with lithium was not significant, noting a weight increase of 0.462 Kg (p = 0158). A shorter duration of treatment was significantly associated with more weight gain. Compared to placebo, there were no significant differences in weight gain. Weight gain was significantly lower with lithium than with active comparators. This work reveals a low impact of lithium on weight change, especially compared to some of the most widely used active comparators. Our results could impact clinical decisions.

Does metabolic syndrome or its component factors alter the course of bipolar disorder? A systematic review.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its component factors, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance, have shown a bidirectional relationship with the prevalence and severity of bipolar disorder (BD). A systematic search of electronic databases (Pubmed, PsycINFO, clinicaltrials.gov) was conducted to explore and integrate current evidence about the role of MetS and its component factors with clinical outcomes of BD. Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies were grouped by the metabolic factors assessed, which included MetS, obesity and body mass index (BMI), dyslipidaemia, impaired glucose metabolism (IGM), diabetes mellitus and hypertension. They were then classified according to outcomes such as course of episodes, rapid cycling, suicidal behavior, treatment response, and global and cognitive functioning. Although current evidence remains controversial in most aspects of clinical outcomes, metabolic risk factors could alter the course of BD, with worse global functioning, poorer treatment response and a chronic course of illness, as well as enhancing rapid cycling. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of each risk factor in the mentioned outcomes.

Lifestyle changes and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A repeated, cross-sectional web survey.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare self-reported changes on lifestyle behaviors during two phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, and to evaluate clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with lifestyles. METHODS: Two cross-sectional web surveys were conducted during lockdown (April 15-May 15, 2020) and seven months later (November 16-December 16, 2020). Lifestyle behaviors were self-reported by a multidimensional scale (SMILE-C). Two separate samples of respondents were analyzed. A multivariate regression model was performed to evaluate the association of SMILE-C scores with demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The sample comprised, 3412 participants from the first survey (S1) and in the S1 and 3635 from the second (S2). SMILE-C score decreased across surveys (p < 0.001). The rates of positive screenings for depression and anxiety were similar between the surveys, whereas those for alcohol abuse decreased (p < 0.001). Most participants in S2 reported that their lifestyle had not changed compared to those before the pandemic. Variables independently associated with an unhealthier lifestyle were working as an essential worker, lower educational level, previous mental disease, worse self-rated health, totally/moderate changes on diet, sleep or social support, as well as positive screenings for alcohol abuse, anxiety and depression. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design and recruitment by non-probabilistic methods limit inferring causality and the external validity of the results. CONCLUSIONS: Overall lifestyle worsened seven months after the lockdown in Spain. Several demographic and clinical factors were associated with lifestyle scores. The contribution of common mental disorders to unhealthier lifestyles should be considered in order to prevent the negative impact of the pandemic.

Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain.

Few studies have used a multidimensional approach to describe lifestyle changes among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic or have included controls. This study aimed to evaluate lifestyle behaviors and mental health of undergraduate students and compare them with an age and sex-matched control group. A cross-sectional web survey using snowball sampling was conducted several months after the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. A sample of 221 students was recruited. The main outcome was the total SMILE-C score. Students showed a better SMILE-C score than controls (79.8 + 8.1 vs. 77.2 + 8.3; p < 0.001), although these differences disappeared after controlling for covariates. While groups did not differ in the screenings of depression and alcohol abuse, students reported lower rates of anxiety (28.5% vs. 37.1%; p = 0.042). A lower number of cohabitants, poorer self-perceived health and positive screening for depression and anxiety, or for depression only were independently associated (p < 0.05) with unhealthier lifestyles in both groups. History of mental illness and financial difficulties were predictors of unhealthier lifestyles for students, whereas totally/moderate changes in substance abuse and stress management (p < 0.05) were predictors for the members of the control group. Several months after the pandemic, undergraduate students and other young adults had similar lifestyles.

Bipolar disorder and Susac syndrome: a case report.

Susac-syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease that manifests with mood alterations in up to 15% of cases and is usually treated with corticosteroids. We present the case of a 41-year-old woman with a first manic episode and history of Susac-syndrome, secondary Cushing's syndrome after receiving high doses of corticosteroids and a previous depressive episode. Differentiating between primary and secondary mania is difficult, as people with bipolar disorder are prone to multiple psychiatric and nonpsychiatric comorbidities, in this case, the differential diagnosis included secondary mania, corticoid-induced manic episode and primary bipolar disorder. Upon admission, corticosteroid treatment was suspended, and the patient was started on lithium and risperidone. Secondary causes of mania were discarded and, assessing temporal and dosage criteria, it was deemed unlikely that the present episode was corticosteroid-induced. One-year outpatient follow-up pointed towards a primary bipolar type I disorder, as a separate entity from her Susac-syndrome. Corticosteroid use or abrupt withdrawal pose an underestimated risk of inducing depressive or manic symptoms, which may unmask affective disorders in susceptible individuals. Many medical conditions share CNS involvement and/or high-dose/prolonged corticosteroid treatment. In such cases, psychiatric manifestations such as mania or depression should be regarded as secondary and studied to determine the existence of medical complications before considering primary psychiatric conditions.

Psychiatric Clinical Profiles and Pharmacological Interactions in COVID-19 Inpatients Referred to a Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Unit: a Cross-Sectional Study.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can affect mental health in different ways. There is little research about psychiatric complications in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The aim of the study was to describe the psychiatric clinical profile and pharmacological interactions in COVID-19 inpatients referred to a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) unit. This is a cross-sectional study, carried out at a tertiary hospital in Spain, in inpatients admitted because of COVID-19 and referred to our CLP Unit from March 17,2020 to April 28,2020. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. The patients were divided in three groups depending on psychiatric diagnosis: delirium, severe mental illness (SMI) and non-severe mental illness (NSMI). Of 71 patients included (median [ICR] age 64 [54-73] years; 70.4% male), 35.2% had a delirium, 18.3% had a SMI, and 46.5% had a NSMI. Compared to patients with delirium and NSMI, patients with SMI were younger, more likely to be institutionalized and were administered less anti-COVID19 drugs. Mortality was higher among patients with delirium (21.7%) than those with SMI (0%) or NSMI (9.45%). The rate of side effects due to interactions between anti-COVID19 and psychiatric drugs was low, mainly drowsiness (4.3%) and borderline QTc prolongation (1.5%). Patients affected by SMI were more often undertreated for COVID-19. However, the rate of interactions was very low, and avoidable with a proper evaluation and drug-dose adjustment. Half of the patients with SMI were institutionalized, suggesting that living conditions in residential facilities could make them more vulnerable to infection.

The kynurenine pathway in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of 101 studies.

The importance of tryptophan as a precursor for neuroactive compounds has long been acknowledged. The metabolism of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway and its involvement in mental disorders is an emerging area in psychiatry. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the differences in kynurenine metabolites in major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ). Electronic databases were searched for studies that assessed metabolites involved in the kynurenine pathway (tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and their associate ratios) in people with MDD, SZ, or BD, compared to controls. We computed the difference in metabolite concentrations between people with MDD, BD, or SZ, and controls, presented as Hedges' g with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 101 studies with 10,912 participants were included. Tryptophan and kynurenine are decreased across MDD, BD, and SZ; kynurenic acid and the kynurenic acid to quinolinic acid ratio are decreased in mood disorders (i.e., MDD and BD), whereas kynurenic acid is not altered in SZ; kynurenic acid to 3-hydroxykynurenine ratio is decreased in MDD but not SZ. Kynurenic acid to kynurenine ratio is decreased in MDD and SZ, and the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio is increased in MDD and SZ. Our results suggest that there is a shift in the tryptophan metabolism from serotonin to the kynurenine pathway, across these psychiatric disorders. In addition, a differential pattern exists between mood disorders and SZ, with a preferential metabolism of kynurenine to the potentially neurotoxic quinolinic acid instead of the neuroprotective kynurenic acid in mood disorders but not in SZ.

Mixed Features in Depression: The Unmet Needs of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition introduced the specifier "with mixed features" including 3 or more nonoverlapping typical manic symptoms during a major depressive episode in bipolar disorder type I or II or unipolar major depressive disorder. Excluding overlapping excitatory symptoms, which are frequently observed in mixed depression, leaves many patients with mixed depression undiagnosed. As a consequence, alternative diagnostic criteria have been proposed, claiming for the inclusion in the rubric of mixed features the following symptoms: psychomotor agitation, mood lability, and aggressiveness. A deeper diagnostic reconsideration of mixed features in depression should be provided by the new nosologic classification systems.

Association between genetic variation in the myo-inositol monophosphatase 2 (IMPA2) gene and age at onset of bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION: The age at onset of bipolar disorder (BD) has significant implications for severity, duration of affective episodes, response to treatment, and psychiatric comorbidities. It has been suggested that early-onset BD (EO-BD) could represent a clinically distinct subtype with probable genetic risk factors different from those of late-onset BD (LO-BD). To date, several genes have been associated with BD risk but few studies have investigated the genetic differences between EO-BD and LO-BD. The aim of this study was to evaluate if variants of the gene coding for myo-inositol monophosphatase (IMPA2) are linked to age at onset of BD. METHOD: 235 bipolar patients were recruited and assessed. The final sample consisting of 192 euthymic individuals, was compared according to the age at onset. Polymorphisms were genotyped in the IMPA2 gene (rs669838, rs1020294, rs1250171, and rs630110). Early-onset was defined by the appearance of a first affective episode before the age of 18. RESULTS: The analyses showed that in the genotype distribution rs1020294 (p = .01) and rs1250171 (p = .01) were associated with the age at onset. The significant effect remained only in the rs1020294 SNP in which G carriers were more likely to debut later compared to patients presenting the AA genotype (p = .002; OR = 9.57, CI95%[2.37-38.64]). The results also showed that EO-BD tended to experience more alcohol misuse (p = .003; OR = .197, CI95%[.07-.58]) compared to LO-BD. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for genetic differences between EO-BD and LO-BD at the IMPA2 gene as well as clinical differences between subgroups with therapeutic implications.