bipolar Flashcards
(17 cards)
What characterizes Bipolar Disorder (BD)?
Severe changes in mood, thinking, and behavior, ranging from manic highs to depressive lows.
Name 3 DSM-5 Criterion B symptoms for mania.
Inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts.
How long must symptoms last to qualify as a manic episode?
At least 1 week
What distinguishes hypomanic episodes from manic episodes?
Duration (≥4 days), noticeable behavioral change, no marked functional impairment.
What defines Bipolar I Disorder?
At least one manic episode (depressive episode not required).
What defines Bipolar II Disorder?
At least one hypomanic episode and one depressive episode.
What is Cyclothymia?
Chronic fluctuating mood with subthreshold hypomanic and depressive symptoms.
How does BD affect suicide risk compared to the general population?
Up to 15x higher; 4x higher than in MDD patients.
What’s the estimated heritability of BD from twin studies?
85% to 93%.
How is serotonin function affected in BD?
Reduced serotonin regulation, contributing to dopamine variability.
What brain regions show dysfunction in BD?
Amygdala (emotional reactivity), prefrontal cortex (regulation), hippocampus (emotional memory), striatum (reward).
What are the two key models of mania recurrence?
Goal Dysregulation Model – Focuses on reward sensitivity.
Sleep/Schedule Disruption Model – Emphasizes circadian rhythm disturbances.
How does BD relate to reward pathways?
BD is linked to dysregulated reward pathways.
Increased nucleus accumbens activation during reward anticipation.
People with BD are more reactive to rewards and successes.
This heightened sensitivity predicts more severe mania and conversion to bipolar I.
How does goal attainment relate to mania?
Goal attainment life events predict increased manic symptoms (not depressive).
Individuals with BD set more ambitious goals, leading to more severe mania.
Success → Confidence → Goal pursuit → Excessive engagement → Mania.
ATTENTIONAL BIAS
Negative attentional bias observed in individuals with bipolar disorder
Dot-probe for positive emotional words demonstrates that attention is generally
directed away from positive stimuli
What are the main goals of pharmacotherapy in BD?
Stabilize acute episodes (mania, depression, mixed).
Prevent relapse (maintenance).
Improve functioning & reduce symptoms between episodes.
What is the STEP-BD study?
Compares effectiveness of therapies in real-world conditions.
Intensive therapies (e.g., FFT, IPSRT, CBT) show faster recovery and better functioning than minimal care.
FFT had the best recovery rates at 77%, followed by IPSRT at 65%.
