Biomedical subjects

Anna Forsthoff

Publications and source records attributed to Anna Forsthoff.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Impact of cognitive-psychoeducational interventions in bipolar patients and their relatives.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, several controlled studies could show that psychoeducational interventions have been effective for relapse prevention in bipolar disorders. We therefore established a cognitive-psychoeducational group intervention with 14 sessions providing information about the illness, early warning signs, cognitive and behavioural strategies for stress management and social rhythm. Additionally we offered a group intervention for the patients' relatives. The objective of this study was to describe the outcome associated with our psychoeducational intervention in bipolar patients and their relatives. METHODS: Sixty-two bipolar patients attended 14 sessions (à 90 min) of cognitive-psychoeducational group therapy. Patients' knowledge of bipolar disorder and their satisfaction with the treatment were assessed using self-developed questionnaires before and after the group intervention. Additionally, 49 relatives of bipolar patients received two psychoeducational workshops of 4 hours each. We assessed demographic variables, burden, high expressed emotion and depressive symptoms of the relatives before and after the two workshops and at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Patients significantly improved their knowledge of bipolar disorder. They also have benefited from the discussions and the exchange of useful coping strategies. Burden and high expressed emotions showed no significant reductions at post-assessment, however they were significantly reduced at 1-year follow-up. Relatives also felt significantly better informed about the illness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that psychoeducational interventions in bipolar patients and their relatives improve patients' and their relatives' knowledge of the illness and the burden of the disorder as well as high expressed emotions are reduced in relatives at 1-year follow-up.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Antiepileptic drugs in mood-disordered patients.

Bipolar disorder is a common, recurrent, often severe mental disorder that, without adequate treatment, is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We review the evidence on the efficacy of a spectrum of antiepileptic drugs (AED) in bipolar disorder. Most studies have been carried out with carbamazepine (CBZ), valproate (VPA), and lamotrigine (LTG). All three of these AEDs have been shown to be of value in the management of patients with bipolar illnesses. VPA and CBZ seem to exert stronger antimanic effects and, to a lesser degree, acute antidepressant efficacy. LTG seems to be effective against depression and mania, with a more robust activity against depression. No firm evidence supports a role for vigabatrin, tiagabine, topiramate, or levetiracetam in these disorders.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed2005

The safety and tolerability of atypical antipsychotics in bipolar disorder.

Atypical antipsychotics (aAPs), have become a first-line treatment option, both in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Almost all aAPs now have proven efficacy in acute mania, some also in bipolar depression and in maintenance treatment. This provides reliable data on their safety and tolerability in this particular group of patients. This review focuses on the safety and tolerability of aAPs in the treatment of bipolar disorders. Both tolerability, for example, extrapyramidal symptoms, and safety issues, for example, occurrence of weight gain and hyperglycaemia, will be highlighted for olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone and aripiprazole.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed2003

Lithium augmentation therapy in refractory depression-update 2002.

Lithium has been used to augment the efficacy of antidepressant medications for more than 20 years. The present study examines whether evidence exists to support the clinical efficacy of lithium augmentation in refractory, treatment resistant depression. Studies were identified by searching Medline (1980 to August 2002) and by scanning the references of published reviews and standard textbooks. Studies were selected if they were open-labeled or double-blind, placebo-controlled or comparator trials that involved patients who had not responded to conventional antidepressants. 27 prospective studies were identified that included a total of 803 depressed patients displaying the following designs: 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, 2 randomized, double-blind comparator trials, 2 randomized, open comparator trials, and 13 open-label trials. The majority of randomized controlled trials has demonstrated substantial efficacy of lithium augmentation in partial and non responders to antidepressant treatment. In the placebo-controlled trials, the response rate in the lithium group was 45% and in the placebo group 18% (p<0.001). Summarizing all open and controlled studies, approximately 50% of patients responded to lithium augmentation within 4 weeks. In conclusion, lithium is the foremost and most well-documented augmentation strategy in refractory depression.Therefore, it should be considered a first-line treatment strategy in patients with major depression who do not adequately respond to standard antidepressants.

Adult↗