Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Bipolar News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/bipolar/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156241.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156241.php A trio of genome-wide studies - collectively the largest to date - has pinpointed a vast array of genetic variation that cumulatively may account for at least one third of the genetic risk for schizophrenia. One of the studies traced schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in part, to the same chromosomal neighborhoods. "These new results recommend a fresh look at our diagnostic categories," said Thomas R. Insel, M.D. Schizophrenia Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156095.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156095.php A multi-national group of investigators, including a scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has discovered that nearly a third of the genetic basis of schizophrenia may be attributed to the cumulative actions of thousands of common genetic variants. The effects of each of these genetic changes, innocuous on its own, add up to a significant risk for developing both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156114.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156114.php A new study by a large international consortium found that many common genetic variants contribute up to a third of a person's risk of inheriting schizophrenia and many of the same DNA variations are also involved in bipolar disorder. While the study helps to explain the complexity of the genetic make up of these diseases it also suggests that developing a test to predict these diseases will take some time. Schizophrenia Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155818.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155818.php New research from the US adds to mounting evidence that when diagnosing bipolar disorder in children doctors and clinicians should consider irritability as a possible symptom. The study, by researchers at the Bradley Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, both in Rhode Island, and colleagues from other centers, is published online in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Bipolar Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155405.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155405.php At the 8th International Conference on Bipolar Disorder this week in Pittsburgh, four distinguished individuals will be honored for their contributions to bipolar disorder research, education and service. Bipolar Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155346.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155346.php A new study from Bradley Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, as well as two other institutions, adds to mounting evidence that clinicians consider irritability as a symptom when diagnosing pediatric bipolar disorder. Bipolar Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153682.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153682.php The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC) voted that Zyprexa(R) (olanzapine), an atypical antipsychotic, is effective and acceptably safe for the acute treatment of schizophrenia or manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adolescents aged 13-17 years old. Schizophrenia Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152814.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152814.php Bipolar disorder is misdiagnosed as depression in over a quarter of cases, a new study suggests. The research is presented today at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' 2009 Annual Meeting in Liverpool. Psychiatrists Dr Krishna Gangineni and Dr Richard Annear, who work in Wales, reviewed the medical notes of people referred to psychiatric services for assessment. Bipolar Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152807.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152807.php Nearly 1,000 researchers, clinicians and mental health advocates are expected to attend the Eighth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder, June 25 to 27, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The event is held only once every two years and is the largest meeting of its kind solely devoted to bipolar disorder, a disease that affects almost six million Americans. Bipolar Mon, 25 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151256.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151256.php Results presented today at the 162nd American Psychiatric Association (APA) congress in San Francisco, CA, demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of SEROQUEL® (quetiapine fumarate) for treating depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, including the difficult-to-treat bipolar II patient population.1,2 The data are from combined analyses of four large-scale clinical trials to examine SEROQUEL as a treatment for depressive episodes associated with bipolar I and II disorders. Bipolar Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151113.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151113.php Mayo Clinic researchers have found that bipolar disorder (BPD) is a more costly chronic condition than diabetes, depression, asthma and coronary artery disease (CAD), based on a review of health care claim costs. Specialty care costs (the costs of seeing any specialist and all tests ordered) were especially higher for bipolar patients. Results of this review were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in San Francisco. Bipolar Thu, 21 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150874.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150874.php In her 1984 boot camp graduation photo, Adrienne Fitts is smiling. Her hair is neatly groomed, her Navy cap and dress whites are spotless and she is regulation fit and trim. Flash forward to 2001. Fitts, now a retired Gulf War veteran, struggles with a mental illness called schizoaffective disorder. She is 90 pounds heavier and has developed type 2 diabetes. She is certain her regimen of antipsychotic drugs ("there are so many") caused the diabetes as well as high blood pressure. Mental Health Wed, 20 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150673.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150673.php New data demonstrate that maintenance therapy with RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Treatment (RLAT) significantly delayed the time to relapse compared to placebo in patients with Bipolar I Disorder. Results of the study were presented this week at a major medical meeting. Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy and ability to function. Bipolar Tue, 19 May 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150564.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150564.php Janssen®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDAs) for the use of RISPERDAL® CONSTA® (risperidone) Long-Acting Treatment as both monotherapy and adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproate in the maintenance treatment of Bipolar I Disorder. Bipolar Tue, 19 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150493.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150493.php Janssen(R), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Supplemental New Drug Applications (sNDAs) for the use of RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) (risperidone) Long-Acting Treatment as both monotherapy and adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproate in the maintenance treatment of Bipolar I Disorder. Bipolar Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149598.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149598.php Eurand N.V. (NASDAQ: EURX), a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops enhanced pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products based on its proprietary pharmaceutical technologies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EUR-1048, to be marketed as GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE: GSK) Lamictal(R) ODT(TM) (lamotrigine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets. Bipolar Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149614.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149614.php Eurand N.V. (NASDAQ: EURX), a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops enhanced pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products based on its proprietary pharmaceutical technologies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EUR-1048, to be marketed as GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE: GSK) Lamictal® ODT™ (lamotrigine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets. Bipolar Mon, 11 May 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149556.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149556.php Nineteenth century thinking about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder must be abandoned if psychiatry is to progress, said a leading UK psychiatrist. At a meeting of the Biochemical Society, Professor Nick Craddock from Cardiff University urged his profession to embrace the opportunities offered by new research methodologies. Bipolar Fri, 08 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149292.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149292.php Continuing their groundbreaking research into the treatment of mood disorders in older adults, psychiatrists at the Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division in White Plains will begin new studies on the effects of quetiapine (Seroquel: Astra Zeneca) and lamotrigine (Lamictal: GlaxoSmithKline). Bipolar Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149275.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149275.php Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL) confirmed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted final approval of the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic version of Depakote® (divalproex ER) 250mg Extended-release Tablets. The Company also received tentative approval on the 500mg tablets and expects to receive final approval on August 3, 2009, upon expiration of the 180-day exclusivity period. Epilepsy Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148476.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148476.php For some time now it has been known that certain hereditary factors enhance the risk of schizophrenia or a manic-depressive disorder. However, just how this occurs had remained obscure. Researchers at the Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit in Mannheim, Heidelberg University and Bonn University are now able to answer this question, at least for one common genetic variant: this impairs the interoperation of certain regions of the brain. Neurology / Neuroscience Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147791.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147791.php Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed psychiatrists identify a therapy's effect on decrease in severity of depressive symptoms as the attribute that most influences their prescribing decisions in bipolar depression. Bipolar Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147444.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147444.php Psychiatrists in London are a step closer to personalising treatment and prevention for manic depressive illness - also known as bipolar disorder. Their research has shown why some people are more at risk and why others are more resilient to genetic and environmental factors underlying bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder occurs when the brain cannot regulate mood effectively leading to mood swings. Around 300,000 people in the UK have the disorder. Bipolar Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147075.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147075.php Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for bipolar mood disorder. However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly how it operates in the human brain. Now, new research from Cardiff University scientists suggests a mechanism for how Lithium works, opening the door for potentially more effective treatments. Bipolar Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147021.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147021.php Mood disorders tend to cluster in families and research shows that bipolar disorder is a particularly inheritable form of mood disorder. Since the strongest risk factor for developing bipolar disorder is having one or more family members with the illness, identifying and treating children of bipolar parents has become an important focus for prevention efforts. A research team led by Ellen Frank, Ph.D. Bipolar