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ENCP: the best of the rest
The final day of this fascinating conference saw no drop in the pace or quality of what has been a fascinating few days. Here’s a roundup of topics on the last day that were of particular interest to our correspondents with its focus on bipolar I disorder.
The first presentation in this blog investigates an intriguing and popular theory in bipolar disorder research – that of premature aging in people with the condition. Age-related diseases like type II diabetes, dementia and cardiovascular illnesses are more common in bipolar disorder compared with the general population.1 One Brazilian team (headed up by Dr Adriane) investigated the role telomeres might play.
Telomeres act like tiny time bombs: sitting at the end of chromosomes in every cell, they are gradually whittled down every time a cell divides; helping determine how many divisions the cell goes through before it undergoes apoptosis (programmed cell death).2 On a whole-person level, shorter telomeres have been associated with increased mortality in people aged over 60.3 So what about the telomeres in people with bipolar disorder?
Discussing data that features in their recent publication,4 the authors demonstrated telomere length was significantly shorter in subjects with bipolar disorder compared with healthy controls (when corrected for age). Their findings offer interesting data to help support the theory that people with bipolar disorder undergo accelerated aging.
Keeping it in the family
A new study from South Korea adds new data to support the widely held belief of a genetic component to bipolar disorder.5 The authors examined the heritability of mental disorders in the children of parents with bipolar disorder in the South Korean population, with predictably bleak findings. In an analysis of 100 people in ‘nuclear families’ who had one parent with bipolar disorder, 22% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Frequencies of other mental disorders were higher still. However, it was unclear from this data the influence of ‘nurture’ alongside ‘nature’ for these children.
Separation anxiety disorder
The final study examined heightened anxiety in Turkish patients with bipolar disorder. Specifically, the authors investigated the degree of separation anxiety disorder in these patients caused by death, divorce and illness (among other reasons). Among the 70 patients examined, the prevalence of comorbid separation anxiety disorder was a staggering 54%. In this group of patients, there was a strong correlation with suicidality; associated with higher anxiety levels, higher lifetime prevalence of specific phobia and severe impairment in functionality.
The authors said they saw an increased role for separation anxiety disorder in the future, helping to improve the “course and the prognosis or co-occurring psychiatric disorders and improve functionality.”
It’s been a brilliant and varied few days in Amsterdam for this correspondent. Throughout the myriad talks across disciplines from speakers of all nations, the quality of the research (and the enthusiasm with which it was received) has remained consistently high. Long may it continue: until next time, as ever, your correspondent.
Our correspondent’s highlights from the symposium are meant as a fair representation of the scientific content presented. The views and opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of Lundbeck.
References
1. Kapczinski, F et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2008; 32:675–692
2. Lindqvist D, et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 55:333–364
3. Cawthon RM, et al. Lancet 2003; 361(9355):393–395
4. Lima IM, et al. J Affect Disord 2014; 172C:43–47
5. Neale BM, Sklar P. Curr Opin Neuobiol 2015; 30:131–138