Bipolar disorder insomnia

Disturbances of sleep are typical of mood disorders, and belong to the core symptoms of major depression. More than 90% of depressed patients complain of impaired sleep quality [60], Typically, patients suffer from difficulties in falling asleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings, and early morning awakening. Not only is insomnia a typical symptom of depression but, studies suggest, conversely, insomnia may be an independent risk factor for depression. In bipolar disorders sleep loss may also be a risk factor for the development of mania. Hypersomnia is less typical for depression [61] and, in contrast to insomnia, may be related to certain subtypes of depression, such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

Benzodiazepines. The benzodiazepines were developed in the 1950s and introduced into the U.S. market in the 1960s. They have found a variety of uses including the treatment of several anxiety disorders, insomnia, seizure disorders, alcohol withdrawal, surgical anesthesia, and others. The benzodiazepines have also been used to calm agitated patients and are therefore useful during the acute treatment phase of bipolar mania. 

In addition to treating insomnia, gabapentin has been used to treat epilepsy, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder. It is generally well tolerated with sedation and headaches being the only prominent side effects. Because gabapentin is excreted unchanged in urine, it does not require metabolism by the liver. It is therefore easily eliminated by elderly patients and those with liver disease, although it should be used with caution in those with poor renal (kidney) function. 

Overall, the clinical picture of childhood MDD parallels the symptoms of adult MDD (Birmaher et ak, 1996b). There are some developmental differences, however. Symptoms of melancholia (e.g., lack of appetite, insomnia, lack of interest in anything), delusions, suicide attempts, especially high-lethality ones, are all less prevalent in young children and increase with age. In contrast, symptoms of anxiety, behavioral problems, and perhaps auditory and visual hallucinations seem to occur more frequently in children (AA-CAP, 1998 Birmaher et ah, 1996a). Also, it appears that the rate of onset of bipolar disorder is higher in... 

Patients with bipolar disorders may benefit from risperidone. This has been observed in an open trial of ten patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder who were refractory to lithium carbonate, carbamazepine, and valproate eight improved after 6 months of treatment. One patient dropped out through non-adherence to therapy and one because of adverse effects (agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and headache) (5). There was a similar beneficial effect in eight adults with moderate to profound mental retardation (6). Risperidone was associated with a significant reduction in aggression and self-injurious behavior, whereas adverse effects were primarily those of sedation and restlessness. 

If intolerable anxiety, insomnia, agitation, akathisia, or activation occur either upon dosing initiation or discontinuation, consider the possibility of activafed bipolar disorder, and swifch to a mood stabilizer or an atypical antipsychotic... 

If Intolerable anxiefy, insomnia, agifafion, akafhisia, oracfivafion occur eifher upon dosing inifiafion or disconfinuafion, consider fhe possibilify of acfivafed bipolar disorder, and swifch to a mood sfabilizer or an afypical anfipsychofic... 

Organophosphate pesticides do not cause a significant percentage of major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they do cause severe psychiatric symptoms of both acute and chronic duration. The most prominent psychiatric symptoms include early anxiety and emotional lability, followed by insomnia, excessive dreaming, nightmares, and reduced concentration. Other symptoms listed in Table 4-3 usually develop only after exposures severe enough to cause physical symptoms but may occur at lower doses in individuals with genetic vulnerability. The limited informa-... 

Evidence from preclinical and clinical data suggests that GABA plays a role both in the pathophysiology of depression and bipolar disorder and in the mechanisms of action of antidepressant agents. - Low GABA concentrations and receptor activity in the brain cause depression, palpitation, insomnia, learning disorders, and memory failure. - GABA concentration in the CSF is inversely correlated with the severity of depression. ... 

Reports vary as to the predominant picture, which ranges from one quite similar to melancholia to one more consistent with an atypical depressive disorder or a bipolar II disorder (Table 6-5). Complaints usually involve a diminution in energy, followed by an increased need for sleep, increased appetite and weight, and a lack of involvement or interest in one s activities. Only toward the end of the episode onset does the patient become aware of the depressed mood and such classic symptoms as poor concentration, feelings of self-worthlessness, and multiple somatic complaints. Insomnia often develops over the next 1 to 2 months. Whereas this atypical picture is more characteristic of the early phases of the illness, reminiscent of certain bipolar subtypes, the affective episode appears to evolve toward a more classic depressive syndrome as it progresses over multiple seasons. 

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