BIPOLAR RESEARCH UPDATE

The genes that influence our circadian rhythms and sleep cycles also influence the clinical features and age of onset of bipolar disorder.
Benedetti, F., Dallaspezia, S., Colombo, C., et al., (2008). A length polymorphism in the circadian clock gene Per3 influences age at onset of bipolar disorder. Neuroscience Letters, 14, 445(2), 184-187.

Cannabis abuse causes bipolar-related psychosis to start an average of three years earlier than for people who did not abuse cannabis.
Ongur, D., Lin, L., & BM Cohen (2009). Clinical characteristics influencing age at onset in psychotic disorders. Comprehensive psychiatry, 50(1), 13-19.

Treating even minor depressive symptoms after a first manic episode is integral to recovery after depression following a first manic episode because only depression was found to be related to functional outcomes at 6 months post a manic episode.
Kauer-Sant’anna, M, Bond, DJ, Lam, RW, Yatham, LN (2009). Functional outcomes in first-episode patients with bipolar disorder: a prospective study from the Systematic Treatment Optimization Program for Early Mania project. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 50(1), 1-8.

A 16-week trial found that aripiprazole seems to show promise as an adjunctive treatment or monotherapy in people with bipolar disorder who are unresponsive to mood stabilizers. Akathisia (inner restlessness) and slight weight gain were the main side effects. However, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are necessary to measure the drug’s efficacy, tolerability and safety for bipolar patients.
Mazza, M, Squillacioti, MR, Pecora, JD, et al (2008). Beneficial acute antidepressant effects of aripiprazole as an adjunctive treatment or monotherapy in bipolar patients unresponsive to mood stabilizers: results from a 16-week open-label trial. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy, 9(18), 3145-9.

A study of the effectiveness of acute treatment with interpersonal and social rhythm therapy on occupational functioning found that despite the lack of statistical significance, there was more improved occupational functioning than with a pscyhoeducational and supportive approach with no emphasis on functional capacity.
Frank, E, Soreca, I, Swartz, HA et al. (2008). The role of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy in improving occupational functioning in patients with bipolar I disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(12), 1559-65.