An algorithm for pharmacological treatment of mania during hospitalisation.

Current evidence for pharmacological treatment of mania during hospitalisation is insufficient as there are no larger well-designed randomised trials of comparative medical treatments of mania during inpatient stays. Moreover, there is considerable variation in pharmacological medication in clinical practice during hospitalisation for mania. Based on a hospital data overview, a systematic search of the literature and a three-day consensus meeting, this narrative review proposed an algorithm for optimised pharmacological treatment of mania during hospitalisation and its subsequent scientific evaluation.

Implementing cognitive screenings for outpatients with bipolar disorder following optimised treatment in a specialised mood disorder clinic.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is often accompanied by persistent cognitive impairment. However, screening for cognitive impairment in the clinic is challenged by a lack of consensus on screening procedures. This study assesses cognitive impairment prevalence and screening feasibility in alignment with the International Society for Bipolar Disorder Targeting Cognition Task Force recommendations. Between January 2022 and May 2023, 136 newly diagnosed BD outpatients were assessed with the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry after 15-20 months of specialised care at the Copenhagen Affective Disorder Clinic. Cognitive impairment patterns and associations with cognitive complaints, perceived stress, and functioning were examined. Most screened patients (73 %) achieved full or partial remission, with 51 % being cognitively normal, 38 % showing global impairments, and 11 % displaying selective impairments. Among remitted patients, 56 % were cognitively normal, while 31 % and 13 % exhibited global or selective impairments, respectively. Both objectively impaired patient groups reported more subjective cognitive difficulties than those who were cognitively normal. The globally impaired group also demonstrated poorer functioning, more depressive symptoms and lower quality of life than cognitively normal patients. Across all patients, lower cognitive performance correlated with more cognitive complaints, lower functioning, lower quality of life, and more depressive symptoms. Cognitive screenings were relatively easily implementable, involving only a 1.5 h session including mood ratings, feedback and cognitive strategy discussion. The study highlights the clinical relevance and feasibility of cognitive screenings in BD patients, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions given frequent cognitive impairment in clinically stable individuals.

Effect of specialised versus generalised outpatient treatment for bipolar disorder: the CAG Bipolar trial - study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Despite current available treatment patients with bipolar disorder often experience relapses and decreased overall functioning. Furthermore, patients with bipolar disorder are often not treated medically or psychologically according to guidelines and recommendations. A Clinical Academic Group is a new treatment initiative bringing together clinical services, research, education and training to offer care and treatment that is based on reliable evidence backed up by research. The present Clinical Academic Group for bipolar disorder (the CAG Bipolar) randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims for the first time to investigate whether specialised outpatient treatment in CAG Bipolar versus generalised community-based treatment improves patient outcomes and clinician's satisfaction with care in patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The CAG Bipolar trial is a pragmatic randomised controlled parallel-group trial undertaken in the Capital Region of Denmark covering a catchment area of 1.85 million people. Patients with bipolar disorder are invited to participate as part of their outpatient treatment in the Mental Health Services. The included patients will be randomised to (1) specialised outpatient treatment in the CAG Bipolar (intervention group) or (2) generalised community-based outpatient treatment (control group). The trial started 13 January 2020 and has currently included more than 600 patients. The outcomes are (1) psychiatric hospitalisations and cumulated number and duration of psychiatric hospitalisations (primary), and (2) self-rated depressive symptoms, self-rated manic symptoms, quality of life, perceived stress, satisfaction with care, use of medication and the clinicians' satisfaction with their care (secondary). A total of 1000 patients with bipolar disorder will be included. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The CAG Bipolar RCT is funded by the Capital Region of Denmark and ethical approval has been obtained from the Regional Ethical Committee in The Capital Region of Denmark (H-19067248). Results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals, presented at scientific meetings and disseminated to patient organisations and media outlets. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04229875.