Showing papers by "L. Trevor Young published in 2005"

Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder: consensus and controversies.

Abstract: Since the previous publication of Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) guidelines in 1997, there has been a substantial increase in evidence-based treatment options for bipolar disorder. The present guidelines review the new evidence and use criteria to rate strength of evidence and incorporate effectiveness, safety, and tolerability data to determine global clinical recommendations for treatment of various phases of bipolar disorder. The guidelines suggest that although pharmacotherapy forms the cornerstone of management, utilization of adjunctive psychosocial treatments and incorporation of chronic disease management model involving a healthcare team are required in providing optimal management for patients with bipolar disorder. Lithium, valproate and several atypical antipsychotics are first-line treatments for acute mania. Bipolar depression and mixed states are frequently associated with suicidal acts; therefore assessment for suicide should always be an integral part of managing any bipolar patient. Lithium, lamotrigine or various combinations of antidepressant and mood-stabilizing agents are first-line treatments for bipolar depression. First-line options in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder are lithium, lamotrigine, valproate and olanzapine. Historical and symptom profiles help with treatment selection. With the growing recognition of bipolar II disorders, it is anticipated that a larger body of evidence will become available to guide treatment of this common and disabling condition. These guidelines also discuss issues related to bipolar disorder in women and those with comorbidity and include a section on safety and monitoring.

Course of Illness, Hippocampal Function, and Hippocampal Volume in Major Depression

Abstract: Studies have examined hippocampal function and volume in depressed subjects, but none have systematically compared never-treated first-episode patients with those who have had multiple episodes. We sought to compare hippocampal function, as assessed by performance on hippocampal-dependent recollection memory tests, and hippocampal volumes, as measured in a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imager, in depressed subjects experiencing a postpubertal onset of depression. Twenty never-treated depressed subjects in a first episode of depression were compared with matched healthy control subjects. Seventeen depressed subjects with multiple past episodes of depression were also compared with matched healthy controls and to the first-episode patients. Both first- and multiple-episode depressed groups had hippocampal dysfunction apparent on several tests of recollection memory; only depressed subjects with multiple depressive episodes had hippocampal volume reductions. Curve-fitting analysis revealed a significant logarithm...

Pharmacotherapy of bipolar mixed states.

Abstract: Objective: Mixed episodes comprise up to 40% of acute bipolar admissions. They are difficult-to-treat, complex clinical pictures. This review provides an overview of the available literature on the pharmacotherapy of manic-depressive mixed states and suggests treatment options. Method: Literature was identified by searches in Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Studies were considered relevant if they contained the keywords mixed mania, mixed state(s), mixed episode(s), treatment, therapy, study or trial. Results: Overall, there were very few double-blind, placebo-controlled studies specifically designed to treat manic-depressive mixed states. Rather, patients with mixed states comprised a sub-group of the examined patient cohorts. Nevertheless, the data show that acute mixed states do not respond favourably to lithium. Instead, valproate and olanzapine are drugs of first choice. Carbamazepine may play a role in the prevention of mixed states. Antidepressants should be avoided, because they may worsen intraepisodic mood lability. Lamotrigine may be useful in treating mixed states with predominantly depressive symptoms. Conclusions: More treatment studies specifically designed to treat the complex clinical picture of mixed states are clearly needed. Current treatment recommendations for clinical practice based on the available literature can only target select aspects of these episodes.

Investigating responders to lithium prophylaxis as a strategy for mapping susceptibility genes for bipolar disorder.

Abstract: Attempts to map susceptibility genes for bipolar disorder have been complicated by genetic complexity of the illness and, above all by heterogeneity This paper reviews the genetic research of bipolar disorder aiming to reduce the heterogeneity by focusing on definite responders to long-term lithium treatment The available evidence strongly suggests that lithium-responsive bipolar disorder is the core bipolar phenotype, characterized by a more prominent role of genetic factors Responders to lithium have typically a family history of bipolar disorder (often responsive to lithium) They differ from responders to other mood stabilizing drugs in their family histories as well as in other clinical characteristics The molecular genetic investigations of bipolar disorder responsive to lithium indicate possibly several loci linked to and/or associated with the illness A combination of research strategies employing multiple methods such as linkage, association, and gene-expression studies will be needed to clarify which of these represent true susceptibility loci