Lamotrigine and GABAA receptor modulators interact with menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptives to regulate mood in women with bipolar disorder

2021

Int J Bipolar Disord

Bipolar Disorders (BD) are disabling and severe psychiatric disorders, commonly perceived as equally affecting both men and women. The prevalence of BD in the general population has been growing over the last decade, however, few epidemiological studies are available regarding BD gender distribution, leaving unanswered the question whether the often reported increment of BD diagnosis could be gender specific. In fact, BD in female patients can often be misdiagnosed as MDD, leaving such women non correctly treated for longer times than their male counterparts. From this perspective, we searched literature for large sample (> 1000 subjects) studies published in the last decade (2010 onward) on BD patients. We included ten large sample studies that reported the gender distribution of their samples, and we therefore analysed them. Our results show a higher preponderance of female patients in every sample and sub-sample of BDI and BDII, supporting our hypothesis of an increase in BD diagnosis in females. BD in women presents with higher rates of rapid cycling, depressive polarity and suicide attempts, characteristics of non inferior severity compared to males; prompt recognition and adequate treatment of BD is therefore crucial to reduce risks and improve quality of life of affected women. In this regard, our results could lead the way for national or international epidemiological studies with the aim of more accurately assessing gender-specific prevalence of BD.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Has Bipolar Disorder become a predominantly female gender related condition? Analysis of recently published large sample studies

Dell’Osso

2021

Int J Bipolar Disord

“…Lamotrigine). 46 In conclusion, as BDs represent highly comorbid, disabling, di cult-to-treat and life-threatening conditions, clinicians should be aware of the recently reported increase in the prevalence of such conditions in the female gender and pay additional attention in the differential diagnosis with unipolar MDD, particularly when the rst manifestation of BD is represented by a MDE. Prompter diagnosis and appropriate treatment for females with BD, in fact, could reduce acute ine cacy, longer-term relapses, suicide attempts, treatment-emergent affective switching, and onset of rapid-cycling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Has Bipolar Disorder become a predominantly female gender related condition? Analysis of recently published large sample studies

Dell’Osso¹,

2020

Preprint

Bipolar Disorders are disabling and severe psychiatric disorders, commonly perceived as equally affecting both men and women. The prevalence of BD in the general population has been growing over the last decade, however, few epidemiological studies are available regarding BD gender distribution, leaving unanswered the question whether the often reported increment of BD diagnosis could be gender specific. In fact, BD in female patients can often be misdiagnosed as MDD, leaving such women non correctly treated for longer times than their male counterparts. From this perspective, we searched literature for large sample (>1000 subjects) studies conducted in the last decade (2010 onward) on BD patients. We included ten large sample studies that reported the gender distribution of their samples, and we therefore analysed them. Our results show a higher preponderance of female patients in every sample and sub-sample of BDI and BDII, supporting our hypothesis of an increase in BD diagnosis in females. BD in women presents with higher rates of rapid cycling, depressive polarity and suicide attempts, characteristics of non inferior severity compared to males; prompt recognition and adequate treatment of BD is therefore crucial to reduce risks and improve quality of life of affected women. In this regard, our results could lead the way for national or international epidemiological studies with the aim of more accurately assessing gender-specific prevalence of BD.

“…Lamotrigine). 50 In conclusion, as BDs represent highly comorbid, disabling, di cult-to-treat and life-threatening conditions, clinicians should be aware of the recently reported increase in the prevalence of such conditions in the female gender and pay additional attention in the differential diagnosis with unipolar MDD, particularly when the rst manifestation of BD is represented by a MDE. Prompter diagnosis and appropriate treatment for females with BD, in fact, could reduce acute ine cacy, longer-term relapses, suicide attempts, treatment-emergent affective switching, and onset of rapid-cycling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Has Bipolar Disorder become a predominantly female gender related condition? Analysis of recently published large sample studies

Dell’Osso¹,

2020

Preprint

Bipolar Disorders are disabling and severe psychiatric disorders, commonly perceived as equally affecting both men and women. The prevalence of BD in the general population has been growing over the last decade, however, few epidemiological studies are available regarding BD gender distribution, leaving unanswered the question whether the often reported increment of BD diagnosis could be gender specific. In fact, BD in female patients can often be misdiagnosed as MDD, leaving such women non correctly treated for longer times than their male counterparts. From this perspective, we searched literature for large sample (>1000 subjects) studies published in the last decade (2010 onward) on BD patients. We included ten large sample studies that reported the gender distribution of their samples, and we therefore analysed them. Our results show a higher preponderance of female patients in every sample and sub-sample of BDI and BDII, supporting our hypothesis of an increase in BD diagnosis in females. BD in women presents with higher rates of rapid cycling, depressive polarity and suicide attempts, characteristics of non inferior severity compared to males; prompt recognition and adequate treatment of BD is therefore crucial to reduce risks and improve quality of life of affected women. In this regard, our results could lead the way for national or international epidemiological studies with the aim of more accurately assessing gender-specific prevalence of BD.