• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 1997

Lithium remains the most widely used therapeutic agent for bipolar affective disorder, particularly mania. Although many investigators have studied the effects of lithium on abnormalities in monoamine neuro-transmitter as a pathophysiological basis of affective disorder, the action mechanism of lithium ion remains still unknown. To explore the action mechanism of lithium in the brain, we examined the effects of lithium on the extrasynaptosomal concentrations of catecholamines and their metabolites. Synaptosomes were prepared from the rat forebrains and assays of catecholamines and metabolites were made using HPLC with an electrochemical detector. Lithium of 1mM decreased the extrasynaptosomal concentrations of NE from the control group of $3.07{\pm}1.19$ to the treated group of $0.00{\pm}0.00$ (ng/ml of synaptosomal suspension) but not that of DHPG. It can be suggested that lithium increases synaptosomal uptake of NE. Increased intraneuronal uptake of NE would decrease neurotransmission and extraneuronal metabolism of NE. Because increased brain NE metabolism and neurotransmission have been suggested as important components in the pathophysiology of bipolar affective disorder, especially mania, lithium-induced increase of intraneuronal NE uptake can be suspected as an action mechanism of therapeutic effect of lithium in manic patient, possibly in bipolar affective disorder.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2015

The secretion of melatonin exhibits a circadian rhythm entrained with the sleep-wake cycle. An alteration of this secretory rhythm has been found in various psychiatric disorders. This review summarizes the regulation of melatonin and its relationship to the circadian rhythm, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, Alzheimer's disease and autism. The review also looks at the effect of melatonin and melatonin agonist on sleep and symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder. In Alzheimer's disease, the circadian rhythm alterations are associated with the change of melatonin levels and melatonin receptors. It has been reported that melatonin and melatonin synthetic enzyme levels decrease in autism spectrum disorder.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1135-1143
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• 2018

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in psychopathology between offspring of parents with bipolar I disorder (BP-I) and those with bipolar II disorder (BP-II). Methods The sample included 201 offspring between 6 and 17 years of age who had at least one parent with BP-I or BP-II. The offspring were diagnostically evaluated using the Korean Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version. Psychopathology and Clinical characteristics were evaluated, including lifetime DSM-5 diagnoses, depression, and childhood trauma. Lifetime DSM-5 diagnoses were also compared between schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Results In lifetime DSM-5 diagnoses, offspring of parents with BP-I had significantly increased risk of developing MDD and BP-I than those with BP-II. Regarding clinical characteristics, ADHD rating scale and childhood trauma scale were significantly higher in offspring of parents with BP-I than that in those with BP-II. Conclusion The present study supports that BP-I may be etiologically distinct from BP-II by a possible genetic liability. Our findings indicate that additional research related to bipolar offspring is needed to enhance understanding of differences between BP-I and BP-II.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2011

Mood disorder is unlikely to be a disease of a single brain region or a neurotransmitter system. Rather, it is now generally viewed as a multidimensional disorder that affects many neural pathways. Growing neuroimaging evidence suggests the anterior cingulate-pallidostriatal-thalamic-amygdala circuit as a putative cortico-limbic mood regulating circuit that may be dysfunctional in mood disorders. Brain-imaging techniques have shown increased activation of mood-generating limbic areas and decreased activation of cortical areas in major depressive disorder(MDD). Furthermore, the combination of functional abnormalities in limbic subcortical neural regions implicated in emotion processing together with functional abnormalities of prefrontal cortical neural regions probably result in the emotional lability and impaired ability to regulate emotion in bipolar disorder. Here we review the biological correlates of MDD and bipolar disorder as evidenced by neuroimaging paradigms, and interpret these data from the perspective of endophenotype. Despite possible limitations, we believe that the integration of neuroimaging research findings will significantly advance our understanding of affective neuroscience and provide novel insights into mood disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

Objectives : Recurrence of mood episodes associated with a specific season has been described in various mood disorders. Seasonal change in mood and behavior as a lifetime trait is also observed in healthy individuals. This study aimed at comparing the lifetime trait of seasonal variations of mood and behavior between bipolar disorder patients and controls as well as investigating associated factors of seasonality. Methods : Subjects were ninety-four clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder and 188 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Seasonality of mood and behavior was assessed retrospectively on lifetime basis using Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire(SPAQ). Results : The patient group showed a higher median global seasonality score(GSS) of SPAQ and a higher rate of seasonal affective disorder(SAD) compared to the control group(p < 0.0001). For subjects showing prominent seasonality, the seasonal symptom profile and seasonal pattern was similar in both patient and control groups. In addition to the diagnosis, female gender was shown to be a predictor of seasonality in the multiple linear regression analysis(p = 0.045). Conclusion : This study suggests that lifetime trait of seasonality may be related to the susceptibility of bipolar disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.207-215
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• 2005

Objectives:This study was to compare verbal memory ability among patients with schizophrenia, bipolar manic patients and unipolar depressive patients, and to understand their charicteristics of memory process. Methods:All subjects were hospitalized patients and had been interviewed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID). Schizophrenic patients(N=40), bipolar manic patients(N=17), and unipolar depressive patients(N=20) were assessed with K-AVLT for verbal memory and with K-WAIS for verbal IQ. Three groups were compared regarding total immediate recall, delayed recall, delayed recognition, learning curve, memory retention, and retrieval efficiency under controlled verbal IQ. Multiple regression analysis was performed to find which clinical factors have an influence on verbal memory ability. Results:In MANCOVA, differences of verbal memory test scores among the groups were statistically significant(F=1.800, p<.05). In post hoc analysis, Patients with schizophrenia and bipolar mania showed poorer performance in immediate recall, delayed recall, delayed recognition, retrieval efficiency than unipolar depres- sive patients. And schizophrenics performed poorly in delayed recall, delayed recognition, retrieval efficiency than nonpsychotic affective disorder group, but no difference in total immediate recall, delayed recall, delayed recognition, retrieval efficiency between the schizophrenic group and the psychotic affective group. Conclusions:These results partially confirm previous reports of verbal memory ability among major psychiatric disorders. Our results showed that psychotic symptoms were related with verbal memory, and longer duration of illness was related with poorer performance in schizophrenia and unipolar depression.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Objectives : The fourth revision of Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) was performed to provide more proper guidelines for clinicians. In this study, we evaluated treatment strategies of elderly patients with bipolar disorders of KMAP-BP 2018. Methods : Sixty-one psychiatrists of the review committee with vast clinical experiences in treating bipolar disorders, completed the survey. An expert consensus was obtained, on pharmacological treatment strategies for elderly patients with bipolar disorder. The executive committee analyzed results, and discussed the results to produce the final algorithm. Results : In elderly patients with bipolar disorder, first-line treatment option for acute manic episode is monotherapy, with atypical antipsychotics or mood stabilizer, and a combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotics. First-line treatment option for acute depressive episode, was a combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotics, monotherapy with atypical antipsychotic or mood stabilizer, and atypical antipsychotics with lamotrigine. Conclusion : In KMAP-BP 2018, the recommendation for treatment option in elderly patients with bipolar disorder, was newly introduced. We expect this algorithm may provide valuable information, and facilitate treatment of elderly patients with bipolar disorder.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.109-122
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• 2018

Objectives : The objective of this study was to revise the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) 2014: Children and Adolescents. Methods : We performed the survey, using a questionnaire comprising 22 questions according to each situation, in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. Results : First-line pharmacotherapeutic strategies for manic episode in children with bipolar disorder were a combination of mood stabilizer (MS) and an atypical antipsychotics (AAP), monotherapy with an AAP, risperidone, and aripiprazole. Aripiprazole was selected as first-line medication for depressive episode in children with bipolar disorder, and aripiprazole, and risperidone were selected as first-line at high-risk children. First-line pharmacotherapeutic strategies for manic episode in adolescents were a combination of MS and an AAP, monotherapy with an AAP valproate, lithium, risperidone (Treatment of Choice, TOC), aripiprazole, and quetiapine. First-line pharmacotherapeutic strategies for depressive episode in adolescents, were a combination of an atypical antipsychotics and lamotrigine, valproate, aripiprazole (TOC), risperidone, and quetiapine. For depressive episodes in adolescents at high risk for bipolar disorder, valproate, aripiprazole (TOC), and risperidone were selected as first-line medication. Conclusion : We expect that the present KMAP-BP 2018-children and adolescents, is useful for clinicians to treat children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.155-162
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• 2015

Objectives Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are frequently used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. However, there is still no consensus on their risk of tardive movement syndromes especially for first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs)-naïve patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of SGAs-related tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia in patients with bipolar disorder, in a naturalistic out-patient clinical setting. Methods The authors assessed 78 non-elderly patients with bipolar (n = 71) or schizoaffective disorder (n = 7) who received SGAs with a combined use of mood stabilizers for more than three months without previous exposure to FGAs. Multiple direct assessments were performed and hospital records longer than one recent year describing any observed tardive movement symptoms were also reviewed. Results The prevalence rates of tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia were 7.7% and 6.4%, respectively. These patients were being treated with ziprasidone, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, or paliperidone at the time of the onset of the movement symptoms. Tardive dyskinesia was mostly observed in the orolingual area, and tardive dystonia was most frequently detected in oromandibular area. A past history of acute dystonia was significantly associated with presence of both tardive movement syndromes. Conclusions Our findings suggest that SGAs-related tardive movement syndromes occur in a substantial portion of bipolar disorder patients. Acute dystonia, a reported risk factor of tardive movement syndromes in the era of FGAs is confirmed as a risk factor of both tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia that were induced-by SGAs.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2011

Background and Objectives : This study aims to identify sociodemographic and disease-related variables which predicts continuity of outpatient treatment after discharge among bipolar patients. Materials and Method : The medical records of patients who discharged with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder from Department of Psychiatry, St. Mary's hospital from 2005 to 2009 were reviewed. Data on sociodemographic and disease-related variables were analyzed. Results : It showed older age, higher rate of male and higher rate of being married in 1-year follow-up group than in non-follow-up group. And it showed longer duration of index hospitalization, higher rate of previous psychiatric outpatient treatment within 3 months before index hospitalization, higher rate of involuntary admission in 1-year follow-up group than in non-follow-up group. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, being male, previous psychiatric treatment and longer duration of index hospitalization were significantly related to an increased likelihood of 1-year follow-up visits. Conclusion : Age, sex, history of previous psychiatric treatment, and duration of hospitalization seems to have influence on continuity of outpatient treatment after discharge.