Clinical and genetic contributions to medical comorbidity in bipolar disorder: a study using electronic health records-linked biobank data.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic and complex polygenic disease with high rates of comorbidity. However, the independent contribution of either diagnosis or genetic risk of bipolar disorder to the medical comorbidity profile of individuals with the disease remains unresolved. Here, we conducted a multi-step phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) of bipolar disorder using phenomes derived from the electronic health records of participants enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Biobank and the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Disorder Biobank. First, we explored the conditions associated with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder by conducting a phenotype-based PheWAS followed by LASSO-penalized regression to account for correlations within the phenome. Then, we explored the conditions associated with bipolar disorder polygenic risk score (BD-PRS) using a PRS-based PheWAS with a sequential exclusion approach to account for the possibility that diagnosis, instead of genetic risk, may drive such associations. 53,386 participants (58.7% women) with a mean age at analysis of 67.8 years (SD = 15.6) were included. A bipolar disorder diagnosis (n = 1479) was associated with higher rates of psychiatric conditions, injuries and poisonings, endocrine/metabolic and neurological conditions, viral hepatitis C, and asthma. BD-PRS was associated with psychiatric comorbidities but, in contrast, had no positive associations with general medical conditions. While our findings warrant confirmation with longitudinal-prospective studies, the limited associations between bipolar disorder genetics and medical conditions suggest that shared environmental effects or environmental consequences of diagnosis may have a greater impact on the general medical comorbidity profile of individuals with bipolar disorder than its genetic risk.

Metabolomic biomarkers for (R, S)-ketamine and (S)-ketamine in treatment-resistant depression and healthy controls: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Ketamine is increasingly used for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) while its mechanism of action is still being investigated. In this systematic review, we appraise the current evidence of metabolomic biomarkers for racemic ketamine and esketamine in patients with TRD and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: A comprehensive search of several databases (Ovid MEDLINE®, Embase, and Epub Ahead of Print) was performed from each database's inception to June 29, 2022, in any language, was conducted. We included studies wherein the metabolomic biomarkers for racemic ketamine or esketamine were investigated in TRD or HCs. Our main outcomes were to examine changes in metabolites among patients treated with ketamine/esketamine and explore the association with response to ketamine/esketamine. RESULTS: A total of 1859 abstracts were screened of which 11 were included for full-text review. Of these, a total of five articles were included (N = 147), including three RCTs (n = 129) and two open-label trials (n = 18). All studies used racemic ketamine; one study additionally used esketamine. The included studies evaluated patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (n = 22), unipolar depression (n = 91), and HCs (n = 34). The included studies reported alteration in several metabolites including acylcarnitines, lipids, kynurenine (KYN), and arginine with ketamine in TRD. Studies suggest the involvement of energy metabolism, KYN, and arginine pathways. In HCs, acetylcarnitine decreased post-infusion, whereas inconsistent findings were observed after the ketamine infusion in TRD patients. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provides preliminary evidence that ketamine may cause changes in several important pathways involved in energy metabolism and inflammation. Larger and more rigorous studies are needed.

Real-World Clinical Practice Among Patients With Bipolar Disorder and Chronic Kidney Disease on Long-term Lithium Therapy.

PURPOSE: Long-term lithium therapy (LTLT) has been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated changes in clinical characteristics, pharmacotherapeutic treatments for medical/psychiatric disorders, and outcomes among patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and CKD on LTLT in a 2-year mirror-image study design. METHODS: Adult BD patients on LTLT for ≥1 year who enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Disorder Biobank and developed CKD (stage 3) were included, and our study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. The primary outcome was the time to the first mood episode after CKD diagnosis among the lithium (Li) continuers and discontinuers. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the time to the first mood episode. We tested for differences in other medication changes between the Li continuers and discontinuers group using Mantel-Haenszel χ2 tests (linear associations). RESULTS: Of 38 BD patients who developed CKD, 18 (47%) discontinued Li, and the remainder continued (n = 20). The median age of the cohort was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR], 48-67 years), 63.2% were female, and 97.4% were White. As compared with continuers, discontinuers had more psychotropic medication trials (6 [IQR, 4-6] vs 3 [IQR, 2-5], P = 0.02), a higher rate of 1 or more mood episodes (61% vs 10%, P = 0.002), and a higher risk of a mood episode after CKD diagnoses (Hazard Ratio, 8.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-38.0 [log-rank P = 0.001]]. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar disorder patients on LTLT who discontinued Li had a higher risk for relapse and a shorter time to the first mood episode, suggesting a need for more thorough discussion before Li discontinuation after the CKD diagnosis.

Polygenic prediction of bipolar disorder in a Latin American sample.

To date, bipolar disorder (BD) genetic studies and polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for BD are based primarily on populations of European descent (EUR) and lack representation from other ancestries including Latin American (LAT). Here, we describe a new LAT cohort from the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank (MCBB), a multisite collaboration with recruitment sites in the United States (EUR; 1,443 cases and 777 controls) and Mexico and Chile (LAT; 211 cases and 161 controls) and use the sample to explore the performance of a BD-PRS in a LAT population. Using results from the largest genome-wide association study of BD in EUR individuals, PRSice2 and LDpred2 were used to compute BD-PRSs in the LAT and EUR samples from the MCBB. PRSs explained up to 1.4% (PRSice) and 4% (LDpred2) of the phenotypic variance on the liability scale in the LAT sample compared to 3.8% (PRSice2) and 3.4% (LDpred2) in the EUR samples. Future larger studies should further explore the differential performance of different PRS approaches across ancestries. International multisite studies, such as this one, have the potential to address diversity-related limitations of prior genomic studies and ultimately contribute to the reduction of health disparities.

Clinical Phenotype of Tardive Dyskinesia in Bipolar Disorder.

PURPOSE: Recognizing the negative impact that antipsychotic-induced movement disorders have on the quality of life and treatment outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD), this study aimed to assess clinical correlates and antipsychotic use patterns of tardive dyskinesia (TD+) in BD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants with and without TD were included. Clinical variables were compared using t-test and χ2 test. Antipsychotic use patterns in TD+, including number of trials, mean doses, and estimated cumulative exposure, were assessed in a case-only analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of TD was 5.1%. In comparison to the TD- group (n = 1074), TD+ participants (n = 58) were older, more likely to be female and have type I bipolar illness. There were 60.3% of the TD+ group that continued using antipsychotics at study entry and had a mean cumulative exposure to antipsychotics of 18.2 ± 15.6 years. Average dose, in haloperidol equivalents, was 5.9 ± 3.5 mg and 77.7% of the trials were second-generation antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms previously identified TD risk factors, such as age, sex, and bipolar subtype in a large BD cohort. Limitations included a cross-sectional design and the lack of tardive illness severity assessment. As atypical antipsychotics continue to be primary mood stabilization treatment, attempting to harmonize large data sets to identify additional biomarkers of tardive risk will optimize individualized care for patients with BD.

Dynamic insulin-stimulated mTOR/GSK3 signaling in peripheral immune cells: Preliminary evidence for an association with lithium response in bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION: A key mechanism of lithium is the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK3ß) and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), two contributors to insulin signaling. We explored the relationship between these markers and clinical response to lithium in bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with BD who had been taking lithium for ≥2 years and had a maintenance lithium Alda score defined as either high (≥7; n = 20) or low (≤2; n = 14) were included in the study. Baseline protein expression of GSK3ß and mTOR (total and phosphorylated (p)) was obtained from a buffy coat. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a subset of each group (n = 11) were stimulated with insulin (10 µg) and change in protein expression was determined using Western blot. RESULTS: In buffy coat samples, significantly higher levels of pmTOR were present in subjects with an Alda score ≤2 (lithium non-responsive), relative to those with scores ≥7 (lithium-responsive). No differences were observed for pGSK3ß. In contrast, functional PBMC responses to 5 min of insulin stimulation demonstrated robust increases in pGSK3ß (87.05 ± 43.41%) and pmTOR (105.7 ± 66.48%) in the lithium responsive group only. This contrasted observed decreases in pGSK3ß (34.08 ± 16.12%) and pmTOR (37.84 ± 14.39%) 5 mins post-insulin in non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic increases in pmTOR and pGSK3ß post-insulin stimulation may reflect an immunometabolic state that facilitates lithium response. Further prospective analyses are needed to replicate and extend these preliminary findings and further investigate the role of insulin signaling in lithium response in BD.

Long-term lithium therapy and risk of chronic kidney disease in bipolar disorder: A historical cohort study.

AIMS: Long-term lithium therapy (LTLT) has been associated with kidney insufficiency in bipolar disorder (BD). We aimed to investigate the risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression among BD patients receiving LTLT. METHODS: We included adult patients with BD on LTLT (≥1 year) who were enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank, Rochester, Minnesota. We reviewed electronic medical records to extract information related to lithium therapy and kidney-related data to assess changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CKD severity was assessed based on eGFR. RESULTS: Among 154 patients who received LTLT, 41 patients (27%) developed CKD, of whom 20 (49%) patients continued lithium (continuers) and 19 (46%) discontinued it (discontinuers). The median time to stage 3 CKD development was 21.7 years from the start of Li treatment. Type-2 diabetes mellitus and benzodiazepine use were independent predictors for CKD development in the survival analysis, after controlling for age. The subsequent CKD progression rate did not differ between continuers and discontinuers (mean GFR 48.6 vs. 44.1, p = 0.13) at the end of follow-up duration (mean duration: 3.5 ± 4.4 years for continuers and 4.9 ± 5.3 years for discontinuers). CONCLUSION: CKD was observed in one fourth of patients with BD receiving LTLT. There was no significant difference in the progression of CKD among Li continuers versus discontinuers, at the mean follow-up duration of 4.2 years, after the CKD diagnosis. Progression of CKD could be influenced by existing comorbidities and may not necessarily be due to lithium alone.

Gene expression in peripheral blood in treatment-free major depression.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral gene expression of several molecular pathways has been studied in major depressive disorder (MDD) with promising results. We sought to investigate some of these genes in a treatment-free Latino sample of Mexican descent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 50 MDD treatment-free cases and 50 sex and age-matched controls. Gene expression of candidate genes of neuroplasticity (BDNF, p11, and VGF), inflammation (IL1A, IL1B, IL4, IL6, IL7, IL8, IL10, MIF, and TNFA), the canonical Wnt signaling pathway (TCF7L2, APC, and GSK3B), and mTOR, was compared in cases and controls. RNA was obtained from blood samples. We used bivariate analyses to compare subjects versus control mean mRNA quantification of target genes and lineal regression modelling to test for effects of age and body mass index on gene expression. RESULTS: Most subjects were female (66%) with a mean age of 26.7 (SD 7.9) years. Only GSK3B was differentially expressed between cases and controls at a statistically significant level (p = 0.048). TCF7L-2 showed the highest number of correlations with MDD-related traits, yet these were modest in size. DISCUSSION: GSK3B encodes a moderator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. It has a role in neuroplasticity, neuroprotection, depression, and other psychiatric phenotypes. We found that adding population diversity has the potential to elicit distinct peripheral gene expression markers in MDD and MDD-related traits. However, our results should only be considered as hypothesis-generating research that merits further replication in larger cohorts of similar ancestry.

Accumulating evidence for a role of TCF7L2 variants in bipolar disorder with elevated body mass index.

OBJECTIVES: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex disease associated with various hereditary traits, including a higher body mass index (BMI). In a prior genome-wide association study, we found that BMI modified the association of rs12772424 - a common variant in the gene encoding transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) - with risk for BD. TCF7L2 is a transcription factor in the canonical Wnt pathway, involved in multiple disorders, including diabetes, cancer and psychiatric conditions. Here, using an independent sample, we evaluated 26 TCF7L2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to explore further the association of BD with the TCF7L2-BMI interaction. METHODS: Using a sample of 662 BD cases and 616 controls, we conducted SNP-level and gene-level tests to assess the evidence for an association between BD and the interaction of BMI and genetic variation in TCF7L2. We also explored the potential mechanism behind the detected associations using human brain expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis. RESULTS: The analysis provided independent evidence of an rs12772424-BMI interaction (p = 0.011). Furthermore, while overall there was no evidence for SNP marginal effects on BD, the TCF7L2-BMI interaction was significant at the gene level (p = 0.042), with seven of the 26 SNPs showing SNP-BMI interaction effects with p < 0.05. The strongest evidence of interaction was observed for rs7895307 (p = 0.006). TCF7L2 expression showed a significant enrichment of association with the expression of other genes in the Wnt canonical pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides further evidence suggesting that TCF7L2 involvement in BD risk may be regulated by BMI. Detailed, prospective assessment of BMI, comorbidity, and other possible contributing factors is necessary to explain fully the mechanisms underlying this association.

Sex differences in the risk of rapid cycling and other indicators of adverse illness course in patients with bipolar I and II disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the independent effects of sex on the risk of rapid cycling and other indicators of adverse illness course in patients with bipolar I disorder (BP-I) or bipolar II disorder (BP-II). METHODS: We analyzed data from the first 1,225 patients enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Individualized Medicine Biobank for Bipolar Disorder. Demographic and clinical variables were ascertained using standardized questionnaires; height and weight were assessed to determine body mass index (BMI). Rates of rapid cycling, cycle acceleration, and increased severity of mood episodes over time were compared between women and men overall and within subgroups defined by bipolar disorder subtype (BP-I or BP-II). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of sex on the risk of these indicators of adverse illness course. RESULTS: Women had significantly higher rates of rapid cycling than men. Overall rates of rapid cycling were higher in patients with BP-II than BP-I; and sex differences in the rate of rapid cycling were more pronounced in patients with BP-II than BP-I, although the power to detect statistically significant differences was reduced due to the lower sample size of subjects with BP-II. Female sex was a significant predictor of rapid cycling, cycle acceleration, and increased severity of mood episodes over time after adjusting for age, bipolar disorder subtype, BMI, having any comorbid psychiatric disorder, and current antidepressant use. CONCLUSIONS: Female sex was associated with significantly higher risk of rapid cycling, cycle acceleration, and increased severity of mood episodes over time in a sample of 1,225 patients with bipolar disorders.

Association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism with early-onset bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met (rs6265) functional polymorphism has been implicated in early-onset bipolar disorder. However, results of studies are inconsistent. We aimed to further explore this association. METHODS: DNA samples from the Treatment of Early Age Mania (TEAM) and Mayo Clinic Bipolar Disorder Biobank were investigated for association of rs6265 with early-onset bipolar disorder. Bipolar cases were classified as early onset if the first manic or depressive episode occurred at age ≤19 years (versus adult-onset cases at age >19 years). After quality control, 69 TEAM early-onset bipolar disorder cases, 725 Mayo Clinic bipolar disorder cases (including 189 early-onset cases), and 764 controls were included in the analysis of association, assessed with logistic regression assuming log-additive allele effects. RESULTS: Comparison of TEAM cases with controls suggested association of early-onset bipolar disorder with the rs6265 minor allele [odds ratio (OR) = 1.55, p = 0.04]. Although comparison of early-onset adult bipolar disorder cases from the Mayo Clinic versus controls was not statistically significant, the OR estimate indicated the same direction of effect (OR = 1.21, p = 0.19). When the early-onset TEAM and Mayo Clinic early-onset adult groups were combined and compared with the control group, the association of the minor allele rs6265 was statistically significant (OR = 1.30, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary analyses of a relatively small sample with early-onset bipolar disorder are suggestive that functional variation in BDNF is implicated in bipolar disorder risk and may have a more significant role in early-onset expression of the disorder.

Association between history of psychosis and cardiovascular disease in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether clinical features of bipolar disorder, such as history of psychosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors contribute to a higher risk of CVD among patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 988 patients with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder or schizoaffective bipolar type confirmed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR disorders (SCID). Medical comorbidity burden was quantified utilizing the Cumulative Illness Severity Rating Scale (CIRS). This 13-item organ-based scale includes cardiac disease severity quantification. Confirmed by medical record review, patients who scored 1 (current mild or past significant problem) or higher in the cardiac item were compared by logistic regression to patients who scored 0 (no impairment), adjusting for CVD risk factors that were selected using a backwards stepwise approach or were obtained from the literature. RESULTS: In a multivariate model, age [odds ratio (OR) = 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-5.54, p < 0.0001], hypertension (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.69-3.55, p < 0.0001), and history of psychosis (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.03-2.13, p = 0.03) were associated with CVD. When CVD risk factors from the literature were added to the analysis, age (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.67-6.10, p = 0.0005) and hypertension (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.61-3.76, p < 0.01) remained significant, with psychosis being at the trend level (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.96-2.13, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The phenotype of psychotic bipolar disorder may reflect higher illness severity with associated cardiac comorbidity. Further studies are encouraged to clarify the effect of the disease burden (i.e., depression), lifestyle, and treatment interventions (i.e., atypical antipsychotics) on this risk association.

The Absence of Items Addressing Increased Appetite or Weight in Depressive-Symptom Questionnaires: Implications for Understanding the Link between Major Depressive Disorder, Antidepressants, and Obesity.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity have a complex bidirectional relationship. However, most studies do not assess increased appetite or weight as a depressive symptom due to limitations in rating scales. Here we aimed to analyze frequently employed depressive-symptom scales and discuss the relevance of weight and appetite assessment items. To elaborate this perspective, we searched for validated questionnaires and scales evaluating depressive symptoms in English. We analyzed appetite and weight items from 20 depressive-symptoms rating scales. Only 8 of 20 rating scales assessed for increased weight or appetite. The scales reported in the literature as the most employed in antidepressants efficacy trials do not assess increased appetite or weight. The current use of rating scales limits our understanding of the relationship between MDD, antidepressants, and obesity. It is necessary to improve our weight and appetite measurements in MDD to clarify the respective impact of depressive symptoms and antidepressants on weight change.

The Wnt signaling pathway in major depressive disorder: A systematic review of human studies.

Despite uncertainty about the specific molecular mechanisms driving major depressive disorder (MDD), the Wnt signaling pathway stands out as a potentially influential factor in the pathogenesis of MDD. Known for its role in intercellular communication, cell proliferation, and fate, Wnt signaling has been implicated in diverse biological phenomena associated with MDD, spanning neurodevelopmental to neurodegenerative processes. In this systematic review, we summarize the functional differences in protein and gene expression of the Wnt signaling pathway, and targeted genetic association studies, to provide an integrated synthesis of available human data examining Wnt signaling in MDD. Thirty-three studies evaluating protein expression (n = 15), gene expression (n = 9), or genetic associations (n = 9) were included. Only fifteen demonstrated a consistently low overall risk of bias in selection, comparability, and exposure. We found conflicting observations of limited and distinct Wnt signaling components across diverse tissue sources. These data do not demonstrate involvement of Wnt signaling dysregulation in MDD. Given the well-established role of Wnt signaling in antidepressant response, we propose that a more targeted and functional assessment of Wnt signaling is needed to understand its role in depression pathophysiology. Future studies should include more components, assess multiple tissues concurrently, and follow a standardized approach.

Weight changes in adults with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

BACKGROUND: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and obesity are bidirectionally related, but the amount of weight-gain secondary to MDD is unknown. We aimed to estimate the adjusted effect of MDD on weight-change in prospective studies compared to individuals without MDD. METHODS: Scopus/MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Web of Science and Cochrane were systematically searched for prospective observational studies of participants with a diagnosis of MDD. We included studies that conducted regression analyses on weight-variables. We searched for weight-variables reported at baseline, follow-up, and regression analyses. A meta-analysis of the odds ratios reported in logistic regression models was performed using the generic inverse weight variance method. RESULTS: Eight studies were included with a total of 60,443 subjects; 56.8 % with MDD. Weight-variables included weight, BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, and obesity incidence. In three follow-up reports, weight-variables increased more in participants with MDD and its subphenotypes than in control subjects, except for one MDD subphenotype. Meta-analysis of three eligible studies (n = 21,935) showed a significantly greater likelihood of incident obesity in participants with MDD (OR:1.48, 95%CI 1.03-2.13). MDD subphenotype reports might suggest a greater risk for atypical MDD. LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity in weight related variables, follow-ups, and regression models; scarcity of follow-up data; and limited studies eligible for meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite previous associations between MDD and obesity, current prospective evidence on MDD related weight-change is scarce and heterogeneous. Our findings suggest a need to standardize weight-change assessment in MDD trials. Moreover, careful weight tracking and management should be incorporated in clinical settings. PROSPERO registration CRD42020214427.

Pharmacotherapy exposure as a marker of disease complexity in bipolar disorder: Associations with clinical & genetic risk factors.

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) require chronic pharmacotherapy, typically including medication switches or polypharmacy due to persisting symptoms or intolerable side effects. Here, we quantified pharmacotherapy exposure (PE) of Mayo Clinic BD Biobank participants using the number of cross-sectional (at enrollment) and lifetime BD-specific medications and medication classes, to understand the relationship between PE and markers of disease severity or treatment failure, psychiatric comorbidities, and polygenic risk scores (PRS) for six major psychiatric disorders. Being female (p < 0.05), older (p < 0.01), having history of suicide attempts (p < 0.0001), and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (p < 0.05) or generalized anxiety disorder (p < 0.05) were uniformly associated with higher PE. Lifetime exposure to unique medication classes among participants with BD-I was significantly lower than for those with schizoaffective disorder (estimate = -2.1, p < 0.0001) while significantly higher than for those with BD-II (estimate = 0.5, p < 0.01). Further, higher PRS for schizophrenia (SCZ) and anxiety resulted in greater lifetime medication counts (p < 0.01), both driven by antipsychotic (p < 0.001) and anxiolytic use (p < 0.05). Our results provide initial evidence of the utility of PE as a measure of disease complexity or treatment resistance, and that PE may be predicted by higher genetic risk for SCZ and anxiety.

Long-Term Lithium Therapy and Thyroid Disorders in Bipolar Disorder: A Historical Cohort Study.

Lithium has been a cornerstone treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). Despite descriptions in the literature regarding associations between long-term lithium therapy (LTLT) and development of a thyroid disorder (overt/subclinical hypo/hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodule, and goiter) in BD, factors such as time to onset of thyroid abnormalities and impact on clinical outcomes in the course of illness have not been fully characterized. In this study we aimed to compare clinical characteristics of adult BD patients with and without thyroid disorders who were on LTLT. We aimed to identify the incidence of thyroid disorders in patients with BD on LTLT and response to lithium between patients with and without thyroid disorders in BD. The Cox proportional model was used to find the median time to the development of a thyroid disorder. Our results showed that up to 32% of patients with BD on LTLT developed a thyroid disorder, of which 79% developed hypothyroidism, which was corrected with thyroid hormone replacement. We did not find significant differences in lithium response between patients with or without thyroid disorders in BD. Findings from this study suggest that patients with BD and comorbid thyroid disorders when adequately treated have a response to lithium similar to patients with BD and no thyroid disorders.

Insulin resistance in bipolar disorder: A systematic review of illness course and clinical correlates.

BACKGROUND: Although insulin resistance (IR) and cardiometabolic syndrome are prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), only a few studies have attempted to precisely assess the degree and clinical impact of IR in BD. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted from multiple research databases through May 2022, following a pre-defined protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022359259). We extracted neuroimaging, cognition, illness course, and treatment response findings from individuals with BD with evidence of IR compared with euglycemic BD individuals. RESULTS: Of 1436 identified articles, 10 reports fulfilling inclusion criteria were included (n = 1183). BD patients with IR displayed worse composite verbal memory scores and worse executive function and exhibited smaller hippocampal volumes along with prefrontal neurochemical alterations compared to euglycemic BD patients. Fixed-effect meta-analysis revealed that BD patients with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) were more likely to develop a chronic and rapid cycling course when compared with euglycemic BD patients (k = 2, OR = 2.96, 95 % CI 1.69-5.17, OR = 2.88, 95 % CI 1.59-5.21, p < 0.001, respectively), with a trend for significantly lower Global Assessment of Functioning scores (k = 5, MD = -4, 95 % CI -8.23-0.23, p = 0.06). BD patients with IGM displayed a higher rate of poor response to mood stabilizers when compared with euglycemic BD patients (k = 2, OR = 6.74, 95 % CI 1.04-43.54, p = 0.04). LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design and small sample sizes of studies included limit the generalizability of results. CONCLUSION: IR is associated with worse clinical outcomes of BD and inadequate treatment response. Implementing strategies to prevent and treat IR in BD is crucial to improve the prognosis of such a difficult-to-treat population.

Clinical characterization of patients with bipolar disorder and a history of asthma: An exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar disorder (BD) and asthma are leading causes of morbidity in the US and frequently co-occur. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the clinical features and comorbidities of patients with BD and a history of asthma. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis from the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank, we explored the clinical characteristics of the BD and an asthma phenotype and fitted a multivariable regression model to identify risk factors for asthma. RESULTS: A total of 721 individuals with BD were included. From these, 140 (19%) had a history of asthma. In a multivariable model only sex and evening chronotype were significant predictors of asthma with the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals being 1.65 (1.00, 2.72; p=0.05) and 1.99 (1.25, 3.17; p < 0.01), respectively. Individuals with asthma had higher odds of having other medical comorbidities after adjusting for age, sex, and site including hypertension (OR = 2.29 (95% CI 1.42, 3.71); p < 0.01), fibromyalgia (2.29 (1.16, 4.51); p=0.02), obstructive sleep apnea (2.03 (1.18, 3.50); p=0.01), migraine (1.98 (1.31, 3.00); p < 0.01), osteoarthritis (2.08 (1.20, 3.61); p < 0.01), and COPD (2.80 (1.14, 6.84); p=0.02). Finally, individuals currently on lithium were less likely to have a history of asthma (0.48 (0.32, 0.71); p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A history of asthma is common among patients with BD and is associated with being female and having an evening chronotype, as well as with increased odds of having other medical comorbidities. A lower likelihood of a history of asthma among those currently on lithium is an intriguing finding with potential clinical implications that warrants further study.

The genetics of bipolar disorder with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) presents with high obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and pathophysiological and phenomenological abnormalities shared with cardiometabolic disorders. Genomic studies may help define if they share genetic liability. This selective review of BD with obesity and T2D will focus on genomic studies, stress their current limitations and guide future steps in developing the field. METHODS: We searched electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus) until December 2021 to identify genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk score analyses, and functional genomics of BD accounting for body mass index (BMI), obesity, or T2D. RESULTS: The first genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of BD accounting for obesity found a promising genome-wide association in an intronic gene variant of TCF7L2 that was further replicated. Polygenic risk scores of obesity and T2D have also been associated with BD, yet, no genetic correlations have been demonstrated. Finally, human-induced stem cell studies of the intronic variant in TCF7L2 show a potential biological impact of the products of this genetic variant in BD risk. LIMITATIONS: The narrative nature of this review. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from BD GWAS accounting for obesity and their functional testing, have prompted potential biological insights. Yet, BD, obesity, and T2D display high phenotypic, genetic, and population-related heterogeneity, limiting our ability to detect genetic associations. Further studies should refine cardiometabolic phenotypes, test gene-environmental interactions and add population diversity.