Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and cognitive function in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Alongside affective episodes, cognitive dysfunction is a core symptom of bipolar disorder. The intracellular parasite T. gondii has been positively associated with both, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and poorer cognitive performance, across diagnostic boundaries. This study aims to investigate the association between T. gondii seropositivity, serointensity, and cognitive function in an euthymic sample of bipolar disorder. METHODS: A total of 76 participants with bipolar disorder in remission were tested for T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies and for cognitive performance using neuropsychological test battery. Cognitive parameters were categorized into three cognitive domains (attention and processing speed, verbal memory, and executive function). Statistical analysis of associations between continuous indicators of cognitive function as dependent variables in relationship to T. gondii, included multivariate analyses of co-variance for seropositivity, and partial correlations with IgG serointensity in IgG seropositives. All analyses were controlled for age and premorbid IQ. RESULTS: In seropositives (n = 27), verbal memory showed significant inverse partial correlations with IgG antibody levels (short delay free recall (r=-0.539, p = 0.005), long delay free recall (r=-0.423, p = 0.035), and immediate recall sum trial 1-5 (r=-0.399, p = 0.048)). Cognitive function did not differ between IgG seropositive and seronegative individuals in any of the cognitive domains (F (3,70) = 0.327, p = 0.806, n = 76). IgM positives (n = 7) were too few to be analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation is the first to show an association between T. gondii IgG serointensity and memory function in a well-diagnosed bipolar disorder sample. It adds to the existing literature on associations between latent T. gondii infection and cognition in bipolar disorder, while further research is needed to confirm and expand our findings, eliminate potential sources of bias, and establish cause-effect relationships.

Theory of mind abilities during the course of bipolar disorder: A longitudinal study using mixed models.

Theory of mind (ToM) deficits, difficulties in recognizing the intentions, propensities, and beliefs of others have been shown in individuals with bipolar disorder in several studies; however, it is not yet elucidated how ToM abilities changes over the course of bipolar disorder and is related to illness symptoms. This is one of the first longitudinal studies to compare the ToM abilities of euthymic bipolar individuals and healthy controls over a four and a half years period. ToM abilities were measured using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). A total of 91 euthymic bipolar individuals and 91 healthy controls were included in the analyses. Linear mixed models were used to compare ToM abilities of bipolar individuals and healthy controls. It was found that bipolar individuals scored lower on average on the RMET than healthy controls and that these RMET scores were stable over four and a half years. The results of this study suggest that ToM deficits are a stable (possibly endophenotypic) trait of bipolar disorder. This understanding can contribute to better identification, assessment, and treatment strategies for individuals with bipolar disorder, ultimately improving their overall care and outcome.

Gut Microbiome Composition and Its Association with Sleep in Major Psychiatric Disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent across most major psychiatric disorders. Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroimmune mechanisms, and circadian rhythm disturbances partially explain this connection. The gut microbiome is also suspected to play a role in sleep regulation, and recent studies suggest that certain probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiome transplantation can improve sleep quality. METHODS: We aimed to assess the relationship between gut-microbiota composition, psychiatric disorders, and sleep quality in this cross-sectional, cross-disorder study. We recruited 103 participants, 63 patients with psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder [n = 31], bipolar disorder [n = 13], psychotic disorder [n = 19]) along with 40 healthy controls. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The fecal microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and groups were compared based on alpha and beta diversity metrics, as well as differentially abundant species and genera. RESULTS: A transdiagnostic decrease in alpha diversity and differences in beta diversity indices were observed in psychiatric patients, compared to controls. Correlation analysis of diversity metrics and PSQI score showed no significance in the patient and control groups. However, three species, Ellagibacter isourolithinifaciens, Senegalimassilia faecalis, and uncultured Blautia sp., and two genera, Senegalimassilia and uncultured Muribaculaceae genus, were differentially abundant in psychiatric patients with good sleep quality (PSQI >8), compared to poor-sleep quality patients (PSQI ≤8). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study raises important questions about the interconnection of the gut microbiome and sleep disturbances.

The Big Five as Predictors of Cognitive Function in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder.

The connection between cognitive function and the "Big Five" personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) in the general population is well known; however, studies researching bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the Big Five as predictors of executive function, verbal memory, attention, and processing speed in euthymic individuals with BD (cross-sectional: n = 129, including time point t1; longitudinal: n = 35, including t1 and t2). Participants completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Color and Word Interference Test, the Trail Making Test, the d2 Test of Attention Revised, and the California Verbal Learning Test. The results showed a significant negative correlation between executive function and neuroticism at t1. Changes in cognitive function between t1 and t2 did not correlate with and could not be predicted by the Big Five at t1. Additionally, worse executive function at t2 was predicted by higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness at t1, and high neuroticism was a predictor of worse verbal memory at t2. The Big Five might not strongly impact cognitive function over short periods; however, they are significant predictors of cognitive function. Future studies should include a higher number of participants and more time in between points of measurement.

[The power plants of the cell: Treatment of psychiatric symptoms in patients with mitochondriopathy]. / Die Kraftwerke der Zellen- über die Behandlung von psychiatrischen Symptomen bei Patienten mit Mitochondriopathien.

Introduction Mitochondriopathies are pathologies of cell organelles, which are essential for the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is responsible for cellular energy stock. When mitochondrial mutations occur, symptoms arise frequently in those organs that rely on a continuous energy supply, such as the nervous system. Although psychiatric illness is increasingly prevalent in patients with mitochondrial disease, less attention has been paid to its psychiatric presentations. Case Report We describe a case of a 21-year-old woman who presented in our outpatient department with panic attacks and depression. The patient experienced major side effects after low-dose sertraline therapy. Conclusion Mitochondriopathies belong to the class of rare illnesses in psychiatry; nevertheless, they require adaptations of psychopharmacological therapy. Psychotropic drugs are potential respiratory chain inhibitors and could lead to distinct side effects.