Clinical evidences suggests that cerebral inflammatory processes are involved in the development of major affective disorders [1].

Obvious correlations exist between changes of inflammatory markers such as acute-phase protein C (PCR) and VES, in patients with bipolar spectrum diagnosis [2].

Our aim is demonstrating the correlations between changes of PCR and VES and pharmacological treatment with atypical antipsychotics in patients with acute bipolar disorder, highlighting a trend.

Twenty patients with bipolar disorder were assessed at the entrance (T0), after three weeks (T1) and after six weeks (T2) of hospitalization using specific rating scales and blood tests routines include PCR and VES.

Is possible to appreciate a correlation between the affective phase of bipolar disorder and inflammatory markers with a proportional trend (Table 1).

The scores obtained seem to confirm the effect of antipsychotic in both sense of psychiatric symptomatology reduction and in anti-inflammatory action.

A confirmation of a correlation between the resolution of affective disorders and normalization of inflammatory markers confirm the intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity of such drug compounds [3].

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Within the various cultures and throughout the centuries has observed the relationship between emotional states and heart function, colloquially calling him “heartbroken”. Also in the medical literature are references to cardiac alterations induced by stress.

Takotsubo is a rare cardiac syndrome that occurs most frequently in postmenopausal women after an acute episode of severe physical or emotional stress. In the text that concerns us, we describe a case related to an exacerbation of psychiatric illness, an episode maniform.

Woman 71 years old with a history of bipolar I disorder diagnosed at age 20. Throughout her life, she suffered several depressive episodes as both manic episodes with psychotic symptoms. Carbamazepine treatment performed and venlafaxine. He previously performed treatment with lithium, which had to be suspended due to the impact on thyroid hormones and renal function, and is currently in pre-dialysis situation.

She requires significant adjustment treatment, not only removal of antidepressants, but introduction of high doses of antipsychotic and mood stabilizer change of partial responders. In the transcurso income, abrupt change in the physical condition of the patient suffers loss of consciousness, respiratory distress, drop in blood pressure, confusion, making involving several specialists. EEG was performed with abnormal activity, cranial CT, where no changes were observed, and after finally being Echocardiography and coronary angiography performed when diagnosed Takotsubo.

In this case and with the available literature, we can conclude that the state of acute mania should be added to the list of psychosocial/stressors that can trigger this condition.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) is symptom based due to the lack of biological biomarker. p11 protein was recently found to be an important factor mediating depression-like states and antidepressant responses. The aim of the study was to assess whether p11 protein in urine can serve as a potential biomarker for major depression, and the relationship of its levels among urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

We obtained urine samples from 13 drug-free MDD patients and 13 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We also collected urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 13 of fracture patients or cesarean section patients in the spinal anesthesia. The concentrations of p11 protein were measured using ELISA.

In MDD patients, urine levels of p11 protein were all less than the minimum detectable concentration of the ELISA kit. The urine levels of p11 were detectable only in one healthy control. In the spinal anesthesia patients, we can detect p11 concentrations in both serum and urine in only two patients. Besides, levels of p11 were detectable in the serum of one patient and urine of another patient. We were unable to measure CSF levels of p11 in all patients.

Concentrations of p11 protein in the body fluids are very low and unstable. The sensitivity of the current p11 ELISA kit is currently unsatisfactory, requiring the development of an ELISA kit of higher sensitivity to determine whether p11 in body fluids can serve as biomarker for depression.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Many guidelines for bipolar disorders have been introduced based on evidences. In contrast, KMAP-BP was developed by an expert-consensus.

To summarize the medication strategies for bipolar depression over four published KMAP-BP (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014).

The questionnaire using a nine-point scale had covered some clinical situations with many treatment options about the appropriateness of treatment.

For mild-to-moderate depression, antidepressant (AD) + mood stabilizer (MS) in early editions and MS or lamotrigine monotherapy and AAP + (MS or lamotrigine) in later editions were preferred strategies. For severe nonpsychotic depression, MS + AD was the only first-line medication in early editions. In 2014, various medications [MS + AAP (atypical antipsychotic), AAP + lamotrigine, MS + AD] were preferred. Valproate and lithium has been rated as first-line MS in all editions. Lamotrigine were positively preferred later. Adjunctive AD was accepted as first-line strategy for severe depression in all editions. Preference of AAP also has been increased remarkably. Adjunctive AAP was not first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate depression in all editions, but was for nonpsychotic depression in 2010 and 2014 and for psychotic depression in all editions. Recommended AAPs have been changed over 12 years: olanzapine and risperidone in 2002 and quetiapine, aripiprazole, and olanzapine in 2014 were first-line AAP.

There have been evident preference changes: increased for AAP and lamotrigine and decreased for AD. The high preferences for aripiprazole and lamotrigine in later editions were likely derived from favorable tolerability.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Overweight and obesity, despite their comorbidities and mortality, could deteriorate the quality of life of people with bipolar disorder.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the quality of life among patients with bipolar disorder and investigate a possible interaction between obesity and deterioration of the quality of life.

This study aims to highlight the importance of preventing overweight and obesity in people with bipolar disorder to obtain an adequate quality of life subsequently an acceptable control of the illness.

Fifty euthymic bipolar patients (Hamilton Depression Scale score ≤ 8, and Young Mania Rating Scale score ≤ 6) received the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey in Arabic validated version in order to investigate the quality of life.

We examined 50 euthymic bipolar patients (60% men, 40% women). The average age was 46, 5 years (23–70). Most patients (69%) were over weighted (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2) (body mass index), of whom 40% were obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Seventy-two percent of the investigated patients had an affected quality of life (score < 66.7). The mental items were deteriorated in 80% of the cases. An affected quality of life was correlated with obesity. The BMI was significantly and negatively correlated with the scores of dimensions D4 (mental health) and D8 (perceived health) (P < 0.01).

The investigation of quality of life in people with mental disorder enables to reveal the social handicap caused by these illnesses consequently emphasizes health care in mental affections.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

The difficulties of diagnosis and clinical differentiation of bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have been repeatedly noted both foreign and Russian authors.

Full medico-psychological service clinical documentation research, including bipolar disorder patient records.

Determination of bipolar disorders in accordance with the DSM-5 criteria among psychiatric outpatients.

A group of 142 patients with established according to ICD-10 diagnoses: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder 137 (96.5%); the average patient's age 50 ± 13 and bipolar disorder and mania episode 5 (3.5%) – 55.4 ± 14.4 has been investigated.

It was found that 18 (12.7%) of all patients meet the DSM-5 bipolar disorder criteria compared with the primary diagnosis (3.5%). Structure of the diagnosis of bipolar disorder was represented as follows: bipolar disorder type I – 11 (61.2%), bipolar disorder type II – 7 (38.8%). Consequently, due to formal application DSM-5 bipolar disorder criteria BD determination 3.5 times more.

Traditionally, the diagnosis of schizophrenia is preferred over bipolar disorder. Manic episode in bipolar disorder can be evidently regarded as an acute schizophrenia manifestation. The diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 are convenient in diagnostics of manic and depressive episodes in case of their combination in I type bipolar disorder.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Obtain and analyze information on treatment guidelines, with particular emphasis on the use of antipsychotics, in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder I and bipolar disorder II who are treated at a mental health center in a district of Madrid (Spain) under the conditions of habitual clinical practice.

Then, compare with recently published literature.

We performed a descriptive study of a sample of 100 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (type I and type II) at any stage of the disease who receive regular treatment in a mental health center in a district of Madrid. Information regarding the treatment used, especially the use of antipsychotics (either in a single therapy or in combination with other drugs such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants, hypnotics or anxiolytics), was collected retrospectively from the data obtained from the medical record.

Ninety-four percent of patients are taking mood stabilizer treatment (68% lithium, 24% valproate, 1% and 1% carbamazepine and lamotrigine). Four percent take lithium and valproate in combination. Forty-eight percent of patients are taking some antipsychotic (atypical about 90%). Of these, only 10% in injectable form, and 5% take both oral and injectable antipsychotics.

The diminished use of injectable antipsychotics, well below recent publications, draws the attention. You can probably explain this low proportion of injectable medication because we are generally dealing with stable patients with a long-term disorder.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Early stages of bipolar disorder are sometimes misdiagnosed as depressive disorders. This symptomatology can lead to misinterpretation and under diagnosis of bipolar disorders.

To describe a patient with a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder after 23 years of psychiatric care.

We report a case of a 66-year-old man, with a previous psychiatric diagnosis of recurrent depressive disorder for the last 23 years, after a hospitalization in a psychiatric inpatient unit because of a major depressive episode. In subsequent years, he was regularly followed in psychiatric consultation with description of recurrent long periods of depressed mood requiring therapeutic setting, alternating with brief remarks of not valued slightly maladjusted behaviour. At 65, he came to the emergency room presenting with observable expansive and elevated mood, disinhibited behaviour, grandiose ideas and overspending, leading to his hospitalization with the diagnosis of a manic episode. In the inpatient unit care, we performed blood tests, cranial-computed tomography (CT) and a cognitive assessment. His medication has also been adjusted.

Laboratory investigations were unremarkable. Cranial-CT showed some subcortical atrophy of frontotemporal predominance, without corroboration by the neuropsychological evaluation. The patient was posteriorly transferred to a residential unit for stabilization, where he evolved with major depressive symptoms that needed new therapeutic adjustment. Later he was discharged with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Our case elucidates the importance of ruling out bipolar disorder in patients presenting with depressive symptoms alternating with non-specific maladjusted behaviour, which sometimes can be a challenging task.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

To assess the clinical outcomes associated with social cognition impairment in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

It was a cross-sectional study with convenience sample. The diagnose of bipolar disorder was performed by psychiatrist, using DSM-IV criteria, at bipolar disorder program – Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (Brazil), where the sample was recruited. The social cognition was assessed by psychologists using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test.

We included 46 euthymic BD patients: BD I (n = 39), women (n = 32), age (49.11 ± 13.17), and years of education (10.56 ± 3.80). Patients with social cognition impairment were not different of patients without social cognition impairment regarding socio demographic factors (gender, age, educational level, marital status, and employment status). Patients with social cognitive impairment showed higher rates of BD I patients (P = 0.036) and higher proportion of hospitalization in the first episode (P = 0.033), as compared to patients without social cognition impairment.

This is a preliminary study demonstrating that BD patients with social cognition impairment show worse clinical outcomes. Severe BD onset seems to be an important predictor of social cognition impairment. However, more studies are needed investigating social cognition impairment in subjects with bipolar disorder.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

To assess the clinical outcomes associated with social cognition impairment in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

It was a cross-sectional study with convenience sample. The diagnose of bipolar disorder was performed by psychiatrist, using DSM-IV criteria, at bipolar disorder program – Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (Brazil), where the sample was recruited. The social cognition was assessed by psychologists using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test.

We included 46 euthymic BD patients: BD I (n = 39), women (n = 32), age (49.11 ± 13.17), and years of education (10.56 ± 3.80). Patients with social cognition impairment were not different of patients without social cognition impairment regarding socio demographic factors (gender, age, educational level, marital status, and employment status). Patients with social cognitive impairment showed higher rates of BD I patients (P = 0.036) and higher proportion of hospitalization in the first episode (P = 0.033), as compared to patients without social cognition impairment.

This is a preliminary study demonstrating that BD patients with social cognition impairment show worse clinical outcomes. Severe BD onset seems to be an important predictor of social cognition impairment. However, more studies are needed investigating social cognition impairment in subjects with bipolar disorder.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Previous optimistic assumptions about the prognosis of BAD based on the control of mood symptoms is now challenged as majority of patients continue to have cognitive deficits during the euthymic phase.

To describe cognitive impairment in euthymic BAD and study the association with clinical characteristics.

Identify the prevalence and severity of cognitive impairment (CI); to correlate CI with the first episode, illness duration, number of episodes and predominant polarity.

Patients attending the psychiatry clinic of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka diagnosed with BAD in the remission phase were recruited. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and Montreal Cognitive Assessment test was used to ascertain clinical characteristics and cognitive functions respectively. Scores of 18–26 described as mild, 10–17 moderate and < 10 as severe cognitive impairment.

Total sample size was 58. Mean age = 48.84 (SD12.5). Fifty-five percent were females. Mean duration of illness was 179.7 months (SD128.5). A mean of 6 episodes were experienced during the course of illness (min = 1, max = 18); 58.6% had depression, 37.9% had manic and 3.4% had mixed as their first episode. The predominant polarity was depressive in 65.5%. No cognitive impairment – 8.6%, mild – 63.8%, moderate – 27.6% and none with severe. There was a significant association between the presence of cognitive impairment and the predominant polarity being depressive (r = 10.886, df = 4, P = 0.028). No significant association was found between illness duration, number of episodes or the type of first episode.

Patients with a predominant depressive polarity are more likely to experience cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment had no association with illness duration, type of episode or number of episodes.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Due to recent aviation accidents, like German Wings flight 9525, aviation related mental health disorders have recently received much attention. Several psychological disorders have been associated with aviation ever since its beginning, both in passengers and aviation professionals. A clinical case is revised of a 33 years old air hostess, without previous psychiatric history, who was admitted twice in a manic state, and a third time abroad in Nice, France, after prolonged sleep privation due to consecutive transatlantic flights.

Scientific revision of psychological disorders in passengers (flight related psychological stress, flight phobia, post-traumatic stress disorders after plane crashes…), aviation professionals (mood changes, sexual function disorders, jet lag, sleep disorders), ground staff, and populations living within close distance to airports (burnout, circadian rhythms disorders due to high noise levels…).

Research in Pubmed, Medscape, scientific literature and other publications, with the following research terms: aviation related mental health disorders, flight related psychological disorders, flight phobia, aerophobia, aviophobia, flight related anxiety, flight related mood disorders, flight induced mania, psychological stress and air travel; articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Fifty-eight articles, one book and four publications were considered relevant; the case of the patient is thoroughly described with data retrieved from the clinical file.

Several important issues concerning both mental and physical health are highlighted by this clinical case, yet, surprisingly, scientific knowledge has progressed at a rather slow pace and mental health professionals have not given much attention to this issue.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Differentiating between bipolar (BD) and schizoaffective disorder (SAD) can be challenging, especially during early stages of the illness.

Comparing clinical profiles and socio-demographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with BD and SAD.

The study, conducted between 2014–2016, included 67 inpatients from the Timisoara Psychiatric Clinic, diagnosed with either BD (n = 35) or SAD (n = 32), according to ICD-10 criteria. The following parameters were analyzed: number of episodes, number of times hospitalized, onset age, frequency and nature of psychotic symptoms, family history of psychiatric disorders and socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status). Data were obtained by direct interview and patient files. Symptom severity was measured with Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).

There were no significant differences between the two samples regarding age or sex distribution. Schizoaffective patients were more frequent unmarried (P = 0.007). Onset age was significantly lower in SAD patients (22.41 years for SAD, 28.36 years for BD). SAD patients had the highest number of episodes and needed more frequent hospitalization. Bipolar patients had higher percentage of family history of affective disorders when compared to schizoaffective patients (41% versus 36%). Hallucinations were more frequently found in schizoaffective patients than in bipolar patients (P = 0.004). We found no significant differences between the two samples regarding the presence or the type of delusions. The SAD sample had significantly higher BPRS total scores than bipolar patients (P = 0.035).

Although this study revealed numerous similarities between BD and SAD, it also identified differences that may be helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Epidemiological studies indicate that the majority of patients with bipolar disorder are diagnosed many years later. Unipolar depression represents the most frequent misdiagnosis.

This study aimed to examine the symptom profiles of depressed patients in order to identify clinical specificities of bipolar depression.

A total of 31 depressed patients were recruited from psychiatry outpatient department of Hedi Chaker university hospital in Sfax (Tunisia), during October and November 2016. Unipolar and bipolar patients were compared on a broad range of parameters, including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Depressive symptoms were rated using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS).

The total sample comprised 31 patients with 16 men and 15 women. It involved 20 with unipolar depression and 11 with bipolar depression. Patients with bipolar depression had more family history of bipolar disorder (P = 0.037) and a triggering factor had been identified less often (P = 0.03). MADRS scores were similar in bipolar and unipolar patient (median score 28.22 versus 28.36; P = 0.964). BDRS scores were significantly higher in bipolar depressed patients (median score 33 versus 25; P = 0.01). The mixed subscale (item 16 to 20) scores were particularly higher (median 6 vs. 1.2; P ≤ 0.01) especially concerning irritability (P = 0.001). Increased motor drive (P = 0.004) and agitation (P = 0.008).

Our findings suggest that the presence of mixed symptoms is very important to recognize depressed patients as having a bipolar disorder. We also recommend routine use of the BDRS for patients presenting for treatment of depression.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are the sympathomimetic drugs that have been used most commonly in oral preparations for the relief of nasal congestion. These drugs stimulate the central nervous system that is affected by the alpha and beta adrenergic agonism. Sympathomimetic agents used in the treatment of flu and common cold with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are case reports. That the manic and psychotic episodes are triggered. In this article, we would like to present a bipolar manic disorder with two manic episodes and both of them triggered by influenza drugs.

A 25-year-old man patient was admitted to psychiatric outpatient clinic with increasing complaints such as increasing energy, speaking much, decreasing sleep, increasing the libido after using the flu drug that prescribed to him containing phenylephrine. Also, 2 years ago, he has manic attack triggered after the flu drug.

In recent years the study of epilepsy and bipolar disorder in common suggests that bipolar disorder may affect the kindling phenomenon. In our case, two of reasons in the neurobiology of developing manic attacks the kindling phenomenon is likely to be effective. First, the possibility of using cold medicine containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine in the first manic episode, in the second manic episode having spent the attack with FAQ stimulant effect of lower phenylephrine. Second, in the first episode after using the 5–6 tablets developing manic attacks. In the second attack to be triggered with just 2 doses may indicate the effect of kindling.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.