Bipolar disorder and regretted behavior in relation to use of social media and online dating.

OBJECTIVES: Individuals with bipolar disorder are prone to risk-taking behavior that is subsequently regretted. Here, we investigated whether this also occurs in relation to the use of social media and online dating. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey focusing on the use of social media and online dating was conducted among individuals attending an outpatient clinic for bipolar disorder, and among individuals attending two general practices in the same region (controls). The association between bipolar disorder and self-reported regretted behavior on social media/online dating sites was investigated using logistic regression with adjustment for age and sex. RESULTS: A total of 124 individuals with bipolar disorder and 196 individuals without affective disorder from the general practices (controls) formed the study sample. Among the individuals with bipolar disorder who used social media, 66% reported regretted behavior as a consequence of this use, whereas only 31% of the controls reported such behavior. The corresponding numbers for individuals who used online dating were 65% for those with bipolar disorder and 31% for the controls. Following adjustment for age and sex, bipolar disorder was associated with elevated risk of regretted behavior in relation to the use of both social media (adjusted odds ratio: 3.6, 95% CI: 2.2, 5.9) and online dating (adjusted odds ratio: 4.1, 95% CI: 2.1, 8.0). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that risk-taking behavior and subsequent regret among individuals with bipolar disorder extend to social media and online dating. Cautious use of these platforms may be particularly relevant for individuals with bipolar disorder.

Use of social media and online dating among individuals with a history of affective disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how individuals with a history of affective disorder use and perceive their use of social media and online dating. METHODS: A questionnaire focusing on affective disorders and the use of social media and online dating was handed out to outpatients from unipolar depression and bipolar disorder clinics and general practice patients with or without a history of affective disorders (latter as controls). The association between affective disorders and use of social media and online dating was analysed using linear/logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 194 individuals with a history of unipolar depression, 124 individuals with a history of bipolar disorder and 196 controls were included in the analysis. Having a history of unipolar depression or bipolar disorder was not associated with the time spent on social media compared with controls. Using the controls as reference, having a history bipolar disorder was associated with use of online dating (adjusted odds ratio: 2.2 (95% CI: 1.3; 3.7)). The use of social media and online dating had a mood-congruent pattern with decreased and more passive use during depressive episodes, and increased and more active use during hypomanic/manic episodes. Among the respondents with a history of affective disorder, 51% reported that social media use had an aggravating effect on symptoms during mood episodes, while 10% reported a beneficial effect. For online dating, the equivalent proportions were 49% (aggravation) and 20% (benefit), respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of social media and online dating seems related to symptom deterioration among individuals with affective disorder.

No Impact of Preadmission Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use on Risk of Depression and Anxiety After Critical Illness.

OBJECTIVES: Risk of depression and anxiety is elevated after intensive care. Drugs with anti-inflammatory properties may have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between preadmission use of drugs with anti-inflammatory effects and risk of new-onset depression and anxiety among adult patients admitted to an ICU. DESIGN: Propensity score-matched, population-based cohort study. SETTING: All ICUs in Denmark from 2005 to 2013. PATIENTS: Adults receiving mechanical ventilation in an ICU. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 48,207 ICU patients were included. Exposures were preadmission single-agent or combined use of statins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or glucocorticoids. Outcomes were cumulative incidence (risk) and risk ratio of new-onset psychiatrist-diagnosed depression or anxiety or prescriptions for antidepressants or anxiolytics. Propensity score matching yielded 6,088 statin user pairs, 2,886 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug user pairs, 1,440 glucocorticoid user pairs, and 1,743 combination drug user pairs. The cumulative incidence of anxiety and depression during the 3 years following intensive care was 18.0% (95% CI, 17.0-19.0%) for statin users, 21.3% (95% CI, 19.8-22.9%) for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug users, 17.4% (95% CI, 15.4-19.5%) for glucocorticoid users, and 19.0% (95% CI, 16.3-20.2%) for combination users. The cumulative incidence was similar in nonusers compared with users in all drug groups. The risk ratio of depression and anxiety 3 years after admission to ICU was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.96-1.13) for statin users, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.90-1.11) for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug users, 0.97 (95% CI, 0.82-1.14) for glucocorticoid users, and 1.05 (95% CI, 0.90-1.21) for combination users, compared with nonusers. Results were consistent across subgroups (gender, age, preadmission diseases, type of admission) and sensitivity analyses (depression and anxiety separately). CONCLUSIONS: Preadmission use of statins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, or combinations did not alter the risk of depression and anxiety after critical illness.

Quality of life and clinical characteristics in a nonselected sample of patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia experience low quality of life (QOL). AIMS: To examine QOL in these patients and the relation between QOL and illness duration, adjusted daily doses (ADDs) of antipsychotics, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and smoking. METHODS: In this naturalistic, cross-sectional study, 82 patients were interviewed about smoking habits. Patients completed a QOL questionnaire (World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref) consisting of physical, psychological, social and environmental domains and had height, weight and waist circumference measured. The characteristics and QOL were correlated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: QOL was significantly lower in the patients than in the general population (p < .01). In first-ever diagnosed patients, QOL was associated with BMI (regression coefficient (RC): physical -0.73, psychological -1.44 and environmental -0.55; all p < .05), ADD (RC: physical 3.71, psychological 4.37 and environmental 2.94; all p < .10) and smoking (RC: physical -0.69; p < .01). In the long-term ill patients, QOL was associated with BMI (RC: physical -1.19 and psychological -1.28; all p < .05) and illness duration (RC: physical 1.38; p < .05). CONCLUSION: Patients experienced low QOL. Lower QOL was associated with high BMI, low ADD and smoking in first-ever diagnosed patients and with high BMI and short illness duration in long-term ill patients.