Neuropsychological Functioning and Temperament Traits in a Czech Sample of Children and Adolescents at Familial Risk of Bipolar Disorder

Background: Although a positive family history is the strongest predictor for bipolar disorder (BD), most offspring of BD parents (BO) will not develop the disorder. Identification of vulnerability markers for BD is essential for specific individual risk estimation. Impairments in cognitive functioning and the presence of specific temperament traits are considered promising candidates.Methods: Sixty-three BO (48% female; 11.8 ± 3.3 years) and 54 control offspring (CO; 44% female; 12.3 ± 3.2 years) comparable in sex (p = 0.4) and age (p = 0.4) were enrolled. Detection of current sub/threshold mood symptoms by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia and General Behavior Inventory was applied to separate BO into ultrahigh-risk (UHR) and high-risk (HR) subgroups. Cognitive functions were tested by the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment II test battery, d2 Test of Attention, and Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks. Temperament was assessed by the Temperament in Middle Childhood and Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaires.Results: The BO sample consisted of 5 BD, 17 UHR, and 41 HR participants. We did not observe any significant differences between the BO and CO groups or between the UHR, HR, and CO subgroups (Hedges' g = 0.21–0.39) in cognitive functioning. The BO differed significantly in some temperament traits from the CO (g = 0.42–0.61), while the UHR subgroup exhibited lower effortful control and attention focusing than both HR and CO participants (g = 0.92–1.19).Limitations: The cross-sectional design and wide age range of the sample limited our findings.Conclusions: Neuropsychological impairment does not seem to be a trait marker of BD in the premorbid stage. Temperament with low effortful control and low attention focusing might be associated with the development of mood disorders in BO

Sleep characteristics in child and adolescent offspring of parents with bipolar disorder: a case control study

Abstract Background Impairment of sleep and circadian rhythm is a typical feature of bipolar disorder (BD). We carried out an exploratory cross-sectional case-control study to extend the knowledge of sleep characteristics in offspring at risk for BD. Methods We investigated 42 offspring of bipolar parents (OB) (mean age 12.5 ± 3.2) and 42 sex and age matched comparison offspring of healthy parents. We administered the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire, the Morningness/Eveningness Questionnaire and The General Behavior Inventory Sleep Subscale (GBISS) to assess circadian preference, and to identify sleep impairment symptoms. In addition, the participants completed 14 days of actigraphy to characterise sleep and wake patterns. The current psychopathology profile was assessed using Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Results Prevalence of sleep disturbance symptoms was higher among OB than controls (headache after waking up, 17.9% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.03; excessive daytime sleepiness, 38.5% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.004; apparent tiredness at wake-up times, 43.6% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.007 and nightmares, 21.6% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.01), but the differences between groups were not significant after adjusting for current psychopathology. OB had higher GBISS total score (parental version, p < 0.001; self-assessment, p = 0.07) than the controls. OB had higher preference for eveningness than the controls (p = 0.047). According to the actigraphy, OB had longer sleep onset latency (p = 0.048) than the controls. Conclusion Evidence suggests that the offspring of bipolar parents experience sleep disturbance symptoms, which was associated with psychopathology in this study. Prospective longitudinal sleep studies would clarify whether sleep disturbance could be a predictor of mood disorder onset in this high-risk population

Table_3_Structural, functional, and metabolic signatures of postpartum depression: A systematic review.DOCX

ObjectivePostpartum depression (PPD) is a serious condition with debilitating consequences for the mother, offspring, and the whole family. The scope of negative outcomes of PPD highlights the need to specify effective diagnostics and treatment which might differ from major depressive disorder (MDD). In order to improve our clinical care, we need to better understand the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of PPD. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of published neuroimaging studies assessing functional, structural, and metabolic correlates of PPD.MethodsRelevant papers were identified using a search code for English-written studies in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases published by March 2022. Included were studies with structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, both resting-state and task-related, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or positron emission tomography. The findings were analyzed to assess signatures in PPD-diagnosed women compared to healthy controls. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022313794).ResultsThe total of 3,368 references were initially identified. After the removal of duplicates and non-applicable papers, the search yielded 74 full-text studies assessed for eligibility. Of them, 26 met the inclusion criteria and their findings were analyzed and synthesized. The results showed consistent functional, structural, and metabolic changes in the default mode network and the salient network in women with PPD. During emotion-related tasks, PPD was associated with changes in the corticolimbic system activity, especially the amygdala.DiscussionThis review offers a comprehensive summary of neuroimaging signatures in PPD-diagnosed women. It indicates the brain regions and networks which show functional, structural, and metabolic changes. Our findings offer better understanding of the nature of PPD, which clearly copies some features of MDD, while differs in others.</p

Table_2_Structural, functional, and metabolic signatures of postpartum depression: A systematic review.DOCX

ObjectivePostpartum depression (PPD) is a serious condition with debilitating consequences for the mother, offspring, and the whole family. The scope of negative outcomes of PPD highlights the need to specify effective diagnostics and treatment which might differ from major depressive disorder (MDD). In order to improve our clinical care, we need to better understand the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of PPD. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of published neuroimaging studies assessing functional, structural, and metabolic correlates of PPD.MethodsRelevant papers were identified using a search code for English-written studies in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases published by March 2022. Included were studies with structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, both resting-state and task-related, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or positron emission tomography. The findings were analyzed to assess signatures in PPD-diagnosed women compared to healthy controls. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022313794).ResultsThe total of 3,368 references were initially identified. After the removal of duplicates and non-applicable papers, the search yielded 74 full-text studies assessed for eligibility. Of them, 26 met the inclusion criteria and their findings were analyzed and synthesized. The results showed consistent functional, structural, and metabolic changes in the default mode network and the salient network in women with PPD. During emotion-related tasks, PPD was associated with changes in the corticolimbic system activity, especially the amygdala.DiscussionThis review offers a comprehensive summary of neuroimaging signatures in PPD-diagnosed women. It indicates the brain regions and networks which show functional, structural, and metabolic changes. Our findings offer better understanding of the nature of PPD, which clearly copies some features of MDD, while differs in others.</p

Table_1_Structural, functional, and metabolic signatures of postpartum depression: A systematic review.DOCX

ObjectivePostpartum depression (PPD) is a serious condition with debilitating consequences for the mother, offspring, and the whole family. The scope of negative outcomes of PPD highlights the need to specify effective diagnostics and treatment which might differ from major depressive disorder (MDD). In order to improve our clinical care, we need to better understand the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of PPD. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of published neuroimaging studies assessing functional, structural, and metabolic correlates of PPD.MethodsRelevant papers were identified using a search code for English-written studies in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases published by March 2022. Included were studies with structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, both resting-state and task-related, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or positron emission tomography. The findings were analyzed to assess signatures in PPD-diagnosed women compared to healthy controls. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022313794).ResultsThe total of 3,368 references were initially identified. After the removal of duplicates and non-applicable papers, the search yielded 74 full-text studies assessed for eligibility. Of them, 26 met the inclusion criteria and their findings were analyzed and synthesized. The results showed consistent functional, structural, and metabolic changes in the default mode network and the salient network in women with PPD. During emotion-related tasks, PPD was associated with changes in the corticolimbic system activity, especially the amygdala.DiscussionThis review offers a comprehensive summary of neuroimaging signatures in PPD-diagnosed women. It indicates the brain regions and networks which show functional, structural, and metabolic changes. Our findings offer better understanding of the nature of PPD, which clearly copies some features of MDD, while differs in others.</p

State of perinatal mental health care in the WHO region of Europe: a scoping review

BackgroundAlthough perinatal mental disorders are the most common health complication among women in the perinatal period, there is a huge gap in the implementation of related research findings in the health care system. We mapped the state of perinatal mental health (PMH) care in the WHO Europe region with aim to identify leading countries, which can serve as models for countries with less developed perinatal mental health care.MethodsGuidelines, policies, and documents related to screening and treatment services for PMH were searched as grey literature. Results were analysed to assess the status of PMH care in the WHO European countries and to identify gaps (absence of relevant service or documents). The state of perinatal mental health care was scored on a 0-5 scale.ResultsThe grey literature search resulted in a total of 361 websites. Seven countries (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Malta) received full points for the presence of relevant PMH services or documents, while five countries received zero points. Most WHO European countries (48/53) have general mental health policies, but only 25 countries have policies specifically on perinatal mental health. Ten countries offer PMH screening, and 11 countries offer PMH service (of any type). Any PMH guidelines were provided in 23/53 countries.ConclusionsPerinatal mental health care is in its infancy in most WHO European countries. Leading countries (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Malta) in PMH care can serve as conceptual models for those less developed and geopolitically close

DataSheet_1_State of perinatal mental health care in the WHO region of Europe: a scoping review.docx

BackgroundAlthough perinatal mental disorders are the most common health complication among women in the perinatal period, there is a huge gap in the implementation of related research findings in the health care system. We mapped the state of perinatal mental health (PMH) care in the WHO Europe region with aim to identify leading countries, which can serve as models for countries with less developed perinatal mental health care.MethodsGuidelines, policies, and documents related to screening and treatment services for PMH were searched as grey literature. Results were analysed to assess the status of PMH care in the WHO European countries and to identify gaps (absence of relevant service or documents). The state of perinatal mental health care was scored on a 0-5 scale.ResultsThe grey literature search resulted in a total of 361 websites. Seven countries (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Malta) received full points for the presence of relevant PMH services or documents, while five countries received zero points. Most WHO European countries (48/53) have general mental health policies, but only 25 countries have policies specifically on perinatal mental health. Ten countries offer PMH screening, and 11 countries offer PMH service (of any type). Any PMH guidelines were provided in 23/53 countries.ConclusionsPerinatal mental health care is in its infancy in most WHO European countries. Leading countries (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Malta) in PMH care can serve as conceptual models for those less developed and geopolitically close.</p

Table_1_State of perinatal mental health care in the WHO region of Europe: a scoping review.docx

BackgroundAlthough perinatal mental disorders are the most common health complication among women in the perinatal period, there is a huge gap in the implementation of related research findings in the health care system. We mapped the state of perinatal mental health (PMH) care in the WHO Europe region with aim to identify leading countries, which can serve as models for countries with less developed perinatal mental health care.MethodsGuidelines, policies, and documents related to screening and treatment services for PMH were searched as grey literature. Results were analysed to assess the status of PMH care in the WHO European countries and to identify gaps (absence of relevant service or documents). The state of perinatal mental health care was scored on a 0-5 scale.ResultsThe grey literature search resulted in a total of 361 websites. Seven countries (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Malta) received full points for the presence of relevant PMH services or documents, while five countries received zero points. Most WHO European countries (48/53) have general mental health policies, but only 25 countries have policies specifically on perinatal mental health. Ten countries offer PMH screening, and 11 countries offer PMH service (of any type). Any PMH guidelines were provided in 23/53 countries.ConclusionsPerinatal mental health care is in its infancy in most WHO European countries. Leading countries (Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Malta) in PMH care can serve as conceptual models for those less developed and geopolitically close.</p