Jonas Rote1,2, Alice-Mai-Ly Dingelstadt1,2, Annette Aigner3, Michael Bauer2, Jana Fiebig1,4, Barbara König5, Johanna Kunze6, Steffi Pfeiffer2, Andrea Pfennig2, Esther Quinlivan1, Christian Simhandl7,8, Thomas J Stamm1,4. 1. 1 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 2. 2 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. 3. 3 Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 4. 4 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Neuruppin, Germany. 5. 5 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Landesklinikum Neunkirchen, Neunkirchen, Austria. 6. 6 Celenus Klinik Carolabad, Chemnitz, Germany. 7. 7 Bipolar Center Wiener Neustadt, Vienna, Austria. 8. 8 Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder is a common, severe and chronic mental illness. Despite this, predictors of illness severity remain poorly understood. Impulsivity is reported to be associated with bipolar disorder and aggravating comorbidities. This study therefore sought to examine the predictive value of impulsivity for determining illness severity in euthymic bipolar disorder patients. METHODS: Baseline trait impulsivity of 120 bipolar euthymic patients (81 bipolar disorder I [68%], 80 female [67%]) and 51 healthy controls was assessed using Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11. The impact of impulsivity on illness severity (measured with morbidity index) was prospectively tested in 97 patients with sufficient follow-up data (average observation time: 54.4 weeks), using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 total (β = 0.01; p < 0.01) and in particular Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 attentional subscale scores (β = 0.04; p < 0.001) predicted illness severity in bipolar disorder, while controlling for other clinical variables. Only age at onset persisted as an additional, but less influential predictor. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 total scores and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 attentional subscale scores were significantly higher in euthymic patients compared to controls. This was not observed for the motor or non-planning subscale scores. LIMITATIONS: The average year-long observation time might not be long enough to account for the chronic course of bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: Trait impulsivity and particularly attentional impulsivity in euthymic bipolar patients can be strong predictors of illness severity in bipolar disorder. Future studies should explore impulsivity as a risk assessment for morbidity and as a therapeutic target in bipolar disorder patients.
BACKGROUND:Bipolar disorder is a common, severe and chronic mental illness. Despite this, predictors of illness severity remain poorly understood. Impulsivity is reported to be associated with bipolar disorder and aggravating comorbidities. This study therefore sought to examine the predictive value of impulsivity for determining illness severity in euthymic bipolar disorderpatients. METHODS: Baseline trait impulsivity of 120 bipolar euthymicpatients (81 bipolar disorder I [68%], 80 female [67%]) and 51 healthy controls was assessed using Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11. The impact of impulsivity on illness severity (measured with morbidity index) was prospectively tested in 97 patients with sufficient follow-up data (average observation time: 54.4 weeks), using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 total (β = 0.01; p < 0.01) and in particular Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 attentional subscale scores (β = 0.04; p < 0.001) predicted illness severity in bipolar disorder, while controlling for other clinical variables. Only age at onset persisted as an additional, but less influential predictor. Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 total scores and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 attentional subscale scores were significantly higher in euthymic patients compared to controls. This was not observed for the motor or non-planning subscale scores. LIMITATIONS: The average year-long observation time might not be long enough to account for the chronic course of bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: Trait impulsivity and particularly attentional impulsivity in euthymic bipolarpatients can be strong predictors of illness severity in bipolar disorder. Future studies should explore impulsivity as a risk assessment for morbidity and as a therapeutic target in bipolar disorderpatients.
Authors: João Paulo Lima Santos; Michele Bertocci; Genna Bebko; Tina Goldstein; Tae Kim; Satish Iyengar; Lisa Bonar; MaryKay Gill; John Merranko; Anastasia Yendiki; Boris Birmaher; Mary L Phillips; Amelia Versace Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-06-15 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Niklas Ortelbach; Jonas Rote; Alice Mai Ly Dingelstadt; Anna Stolzenburg; Cornelia Koenig; Grace O'Malley; Esther Quinlivan; Jana Fiebig; Steffi Pfeiffer; Barbara König; Christian Simhandl; Michael Bauer; Andrea Pfennig; Thomas J Stamm Journal: Int J Bipolar Disord Date: 2022-01-18
Authors: Andrea Boscutti; Alessandro Pigoni; Giuseppe Delvecchio; Matteo Lazzaretti; Gian Mario Mandolini; Paolo Girardi; Adele Ferro; Michela Sala; Vera Abbiati; Marco Cappucciati; Marcella Bellani; Cinzia Perlini; Maria Gloria Rossetti; Matteo Balestrieri; Giuseppe Damante; Carolina Bonivento; Roberta Rossi; Livio Finos; Alessandro Serretti; Paolo Brambilla Journal: Genes (Basel) Date: 2022-03-09 Impact factor: 4.096