New Study Identifies Neurobehavioral Signature for Predicting Mania Risk in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Research offers potential for earlier detection and intervention for severe mental health conditions
Published on September 14, 2022
A groundbreaking study recently published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging has identified a neurobehavioral signature that can predict the risk of future mania or hypomania in bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD). Mania and hypomania are the defining features of BSD, characterized by extremely elevated mood and energy levels.
Led by Adriane M. Soehner, PhD, at the University of Pittsburgh, the researchers examined factors such as reward sensitivity, impulsivity, and sleep-circadian characteristics to identify three distinct neurobehavioral profiles: healthy, moderate risk, and high risk. They aimed to determine if these profiles could accurately predict future mania risk.
The study involved young adult participants without a diagnosis of BSD who completed assessments and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Approximately half of the participants also underwent follow-up assessments at six and 12 months.
The findings revealed that individuals in the high-risk and moderate-risk groups exhibited more symptoms of mania over the 12-month period compared to those in the healthy group. This suggests that the neurobehavioral signature identified in the study can serve as an early indicator of mania risk in individuals with BSD.
Dr. Soehner expressed the significance of the findings, stating, “Here, we identified neurobehavioral profiles based on reward sensitivity, impulsivity, and sleep-circadian characteristics that help distinguish those with elevated mania vulnerability. These characteristics, in combination, may help detect mania risk and provide targets to guide and monitor early interventions.”
Cameron Carter, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, emphasized the importance of combining neurobiological and clinical measures to identify individuals at the highest risk for serious mental health problems like mania. He stated, “New findings such as these highlight our emerging ability to combine neurobiological and clinical measures to identify groups of patients at highest risk for serious mental health problems such as mania, allowing for early identification and intervention for those at highest risk.”
Bipolar spectrum disorders typically emerge in young adulthood and can significantly disrupt individuals’ lives, often requiring intensive treatments. However, predicting mania risk has remained challenging for clinicians. The ability to detect mania risk earlier and implement interventions sooner can greatly improve outcomes for individuals with BSD.
The study’s findings offer hope for improved identification and intervention strategies for mania risk in individuals with bipolar spectrum disorders. Further research is needed to validate these results and evaluate their efficacy in reducing suffering and enhancing outcomes for those identified as high risk.
This research was conducted by a team of experts from the University of Pittsburgh and represents a significant step forward in understanding and managing severe mental health conditions like mania in individuals with bipolar spectrum disorders.
Source: Elsevier
Original Research: Open access. “Neurobehavioral Reward and Sleep-Circadian Profiles Predict Present and Next-Year Mania/Hypomania Symptoms” by Ashley Tentrock et al. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.
About this bipolar disorder research news:
Author: Eileen Leahy
Source: Elsevier
Contact: Eileen Leahy – Elsevier
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Abstract:
Neurobehavioral Reward and Sleep-Circadian Profiles Predict Present and Next-Year Mania/Hypomania Symptoms