How Treatment Helps With Mixed Anxiety Depressive Disorder Symptoms
06/10/2015|Admin
The symptoms of mixed anxiety depressive disorder, though often mild enough to not warrant a diagnosis of either specific mental disorder, can be problematic. For many individuals, these symptoms persist for months until the person finally reaches out for help. There are many ways in which seeking treatment for mixed anxiety depressive disorder helps with the symptoms of this illness and allows patients to become happier and more satisfied with their lives in general.
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What Is The Incidence Of Manic
Dr. Nierenberg: It is hard to estimate how often that really happens. One source of data is the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression study. STAR-D was a very large multicenter study that was done in a real-world setting, including academic and primary care settings, with more than 4,200 patients treated. The absolute incidence of antidepressant-induced mania, hypomania, and agitation was certainly less than one percent overall. The randomized study of antidepressants compared to placebo added to a mood stabilizer resulted in about 10-percent switching without any differences between the two groups. This finding is in sharp contrast to what is stated in the literature, where up to 30 percent of patients may present with either a history of subtle hypomanic symptoms in the past or they might get agitated. I believe the true incidence is somewhere between one percent and 30 percent.
Symptoms Of Mania With Mixed Features
Your mood episode will meet the criteria for an episode of mania or hypomania, but youll also have at least three symptoms of depression:
- feelings of uneasiness or disconnection from reality
- extreme sadness or tearfulness
- lack of interest or enjoyment in your usual activities
- moving and speaking more slowly than usual
A mixed features episode wont always involve the same euphoria or feelings of grandiosity that often accompanies mania. You wont necessarily feel on top of the world or experience the same elevated self-confidence and self-esteem.
Youre more likely to notice rapid changes in mood, increased irritability, and difficulty controlling strong emotions. In addition:
- Your thoughts might race, or your speech might become very rapid, while you feel very low and slowed down in mind and body.
- You might find yourself unable to stop smiling or laughing despite persistent feelings of guilt or thoughts of suicide.
- Feelings of hopelessness or sadness might show up alongside physical restlessness, anxiety, or increased energy.
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In The Future Where Do You Think That The Clinical Presentation Of Mixed Depression Will Fit Within The Diagnostic System
Dr. Nierenberg: Right now, this type of a patient might be considered bipolar, not otherwise specified. In other words, the clinican is not exactly sure what is going on with the patient. I think as neuroscience researchers, we need to find out what the implications are not only for the depression but also for those few subthreshold manic symptoms. The DSM-V will at least recognize the importance of patients who have a major depressive episode with mixed manic-type features. The recognition of mixed depression as a distinct entity will allow us to learn more about this large group of patients and improve our treatments.
How To Diagnose Mixed Features Without Overdiagnosing Bipolar
Psychiatric Times
Hypomania looks very different when its mixed with depression.
RESEARCH UPDATE
Mixed features are common in practice but poorly described in DSM. They are caused by the overlap of depressive and manic symptoms, but its hard to understand them by reading separate descriptions of these two states. It would be like trying to imagine green by studying yellow and blue.
Classic hypomania is difficult enough to detect. These euphoric states are brief, rare, and easily forgotten. Mixed cases bring a different set of challenges. Mixed features cause intense desperation. Rather than missing their appointments in a carefree, hypomanic bliss, these patients often call for urgent appointments. The issue is not that these states will be forgotten, but that theyll present with symptoms that resemble those of many other psychiatric disorders.
A diagnostic chameleon
Mixed features can look like anxiety, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, or depression with an agitated edge. The Table contrasts the features of hypomania as they appear in mixed and pure forms. Unlike euphoric hypomania, mixed symptoms are not pleasurable, and the interview needs to be adjusted to capture that.
Clinical implications
Mixed unipolar disorder
The bottom line
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Is Increased Energy Associated With Productivity As Opposed To Agitation
Dr. Nierenberg: Increased energy does not mean that the patient is productive, although he or she may feel he or she is. In fact, one problem is that the patient may be able to do a lot of things but not finish anything. The patient may be doing a little of this and a little of that, mixed with distractibility, but the patient actually is not able to accomplish or complete anything.
Agitation can seem like increased energy to some people. There could be a restless type of energy that would be a form of physical agitation. For example, the patient may not be able to sit still, though this would not be considered akathisia, but somehow the restlessness feels like increased nervous energy.
Specific Treatments For Depression With Family History Of Bipolar Disorder
There can be no specific recommendations for this group at this time as all data is extrapolation. Clinicians should be experienced and have a good knowledge of unipolar, bipolar, child and adolescent, youth guidelines, and guidelines for mixed bipolar states and apply where they see fit and change according to treatment response . Guidelines for first episode psychosis contain limited data on the depression with psychotic features group . Guidelines have unfortunately siloed data. For example, suggestions for low dosego slow antidepressants in this group is largely borrowed from the child and adolescent guidelines and early psychosis literature .
Several recent papers, not reviewed here summarize the limited data on treatment of unipolar depression with mixed features which may or may not proceed to bipolar disorder or in part have its own signature. As can be seen by the recency of papers quoted, up to date knowledge of the evolving literature is important as guidelines are already outdated.
Table 4 outlines strategies to consider in approaching major depression, family history bipolar disorderof most importance in youth but remaining important in young adults all the way to old age. These are extrapolated from both unipolar and bipolar guidelines above where the agent is recommended as effective in both unipolar and bipolar depression.
Table 4 Treatment considerations for major depression with family history of bipolar disorder or suicide.
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Pragmatic Management Of Possible/probable Pre
In contrast, recent treatment guidelines for children/adolescent depression are much more attentive to factoring family history of bipolar disorder into the assessment, gathering collateral history and providing detailed psychoeducation to families regarding potential bipolar outcomes . There are several obvious reasons for this. Firstly, early age of onset is among the more solid predictors of bipolar depression and risk of manic switch in youth is 4.5 times greater than in adults . Mixed manic symptoms interspersed with depression are more common in youth . It is more firmly accepted that antidepressants can cause harm in adolescent depression with new onset of or increase in irritability, impulsivity and agitation, suicidal thinking, and behavior as well as the broader phenomenology of activation . There are several long-term prospective cohorts of children with familial risk ongoing, cited above, with attempts to calculate risk of future bipolar course at least over the short term . Finally, the assessment of youth typically includes families which alters the perspective.
The more recent guidelines also reflect a significant number of recent studies and reviews in children and adolescents with major depression and family history of bipolar disorder summarized by Angal in a recent case report and review of the literature .
Role Of The Pharmacist
Pharmacists in all practice settings are uniquely positioned to educate patients about MDD-MX. Patients receiving an antidepressant, particularly for the first time, should be encouraged to contact their healthcare provider if they experience a persistently elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, or increased participation in high-risk activities, as these could be symptoms of MDD-MX.7 Most patients have not heard of this diagnosis and, accordingly, will not correlate the development of these symptoms to their antidepressant. Additionally, MDD-MX should be considered in patients with a presenting diagnosis of unipolar MDD who do not exhibit a satisfactory therapeutic response to monotherapy antidepressants. Patients should be counseled to monitor and report their symptomatic response to antidepressants, or lack thereof, to their healthcare provider.
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Acute And Maintenance Efficacy Of Deep Tms In Depression With Mixed Features
Article Information
Jean-Michel Azorin*MD, Christophe Gouraud RN, Léa Guintrand RN
Clinique lEmeraude, Clinea, 34 Traverse de la Seigneurie, 13009 Marseille, France
*Corresponding Author: Jean-Michel Azorin, Clinique lEmeraude, Clinea, 34 Traverse de la Seigneurie, 13009 Marseille, France
Received: 23 October 2020 Accepted: 02 November 2020 04 November 2020
Citation: Jean-Michel Azorin, Christophe Gouraud RN, Léa Guintrand RN. Acute and Maintenance Efficacy of Deep TMS in Depression with Mixed Features. Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders 4 : 354-357.
Abstract
Background: There is evidence that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is efficacious against depression in bipolar disorder but there are less data for mania. Similarly it has been suggested that rTMS may be effective against depressive symptoms in mixed states, with fewer evidence regarding manic symptoms. Deep TMS has been reported to be efficacious in bipolar depression, but there are no data concerning mixed states.Procedure: We report the case of a bipolar II patient, in which dTMS displayed acute and maintenance efficacy against the depressive and hypomanic symptoms of a depressive episode with mixed features. Randomized-controlled studies should be conducted to assess the acute and maintenance efficacy of dTMS in depression with mixed features.
Keywords
Depression Mixed features Bipolar disorder Deep TMS
Article Details
1. Introduction
2. Case Report
3. Discussion
4. Conclusion
What Are The Symptoms Of Madd
It is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of this disorder in yourself or someone else. Often, those who suffer from mixed anxiety depressive disorder do not realize that they are dealing with a true mental disorder because their symptoms are not intense enough to warrant a diagnosis of either depression or generalized anxiety disorder. However, these symptoms can still be debilitating and require treatment. They include:
- Consistent feelings of sadness, despair, worthlessness, and hopelessness that persist for four weeks or longer
- Consistent worrying, nervousness, and anxiety that is uncontrollable and persists for four weeks or longer
- Dizziness
- Hot and cold flashes
- Teariness or constantly feeling the urge to cry
In a study from the NCBI, the symptoms listed above were experienced by individuals struggling with the disorder. Exclusion criteria was: psychoactive substance abuse, physical diseases affecting mental state, and mental disorder other than anxiety or mood disorders. Though these symptoms are not enough to provide an individual with a diagnosis of one specific depressive or anxiety disorder, they do persist for an extended amount of time, making it difficult for the person to live their life.
In addition, anxious and depressive symptoms are both present, often but not always in equal amounts. This means treatment must cover both issues and help individuals with all symptoms related to either depressive or anxious thoughts and behavior.
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Lurasidone For Depression With Mixed Features
Peter Forster Bipolar Treatment, Diagnosis, Major Depression, Treatments of Depression
Lurasidone May Treat Depression with Mixed Features
A recently published clinical trial suggests that lurasidone, which is an atypical antipsychotic with strong evidence for efficacy in treating bipolar depression, may be associated with response in patients who, according to DSM5, do not meet criteria for bipolar disorder, but do have evidence of mixed features.
The study points to the importance of industry funded studies in helping to advance the state of knowledge in the field of psychiatry, since it suggests that the spectrum view that unipolar depression and bipolar depression exist on a continuum from pure unipolar depression to pure bipolar disorder .
Trish Suppes and colleagues studied 209 patients with major depression and mixed features . This was a six week trial that compared treatment with either lurasidone or placebo.
Most of the patients in the study were women and they had a high lifetime history of depressive episodes .
Like other atypicals, lurasidone antagonizes D2/D3 and 5-HT2 receptors but also shows high affinity for 5-HT7 receptors, implicated in antidepressant efficacy.
Baseline manic symptoms included flight of ideas/racing thoughts and pressured speech .
Week-6 rates of change on MADRS strongly favored lurasidone, with a large effect size .
Nausea and somnolence occurred in > 5% of lurasidone-treated patients weight increased 7% in 1.9%.
References
Treating Bipolar Disorder With Mixed Features
Treatment for mood episodes without mixed features focuses on resolving either mania or depression symptoms whichever you are experiencing at the time.
Treating mood episodes with mixed features, on the other hand, needs to address mania and depression at the same time. This can pose some challenges, since certain medical treatments may worsen some symptoms, sometimes without offering much relief from other symptoms.
Certain antidepressants, for example, might intensify manic symptoms without relieving depression. Many people take lithium to treat manic episodes, but mood episodes with mixed features may not respond in the same way.
These mood episodes are often more resistant to treatment, so it may take some trial and error to find the most effective approach for your specific symptoms. The right treatment will help improve many of your symptoms without making others worse.
Treatment for bipolar disorder with mixed features typically involves medication. Your doctor or psychiatrist may recommend one medication or a combination, such as:
- atypical antipsychotics , such as aripiprazole and olanzapine
- mood stabilizers, such as lithium, valproic acid, or divalproex
- anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine or lamotrigine
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Can You Prevent Bipolar Disorder With Mixed Features
Theres no known way to prevent bipolar disorder. However, if you experience a mixed episode during treatment, your care team can work on figuring out what might have caused it, then adjust any necessary medication or work with you on lifestyle behaviors.
Managing episodes with mixed features is part of the treatment for bipolar disorder.
Mixed Features In Major Depressive Disorder: Diagnoses And Treatments
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 May 2017
- Trisha Suppes*
- Affiliation:VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Michael Ostacher
- Affiliation:VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
- *
- *Address for correspondence: Trisha Suppes, MD, PhD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave. 151T, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
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Signs Of Major Depression Subtypes: Mixed Features
Over the past several days, weve lifted the masks of many MDD presentation variations. Before we move onto specifiers of onset, well round out presentation specifiers with Mixed Features. Historically, a mixed presentation was only recognized as applied to Bipolar Disorder Type 1 when a patient simultaneously met criteria for Mania and Major Depression. This was called a Mixed Episode. This stringent criteria always puzzled me, as it didnt seem unusual to witness someone with just a few depressive symptoms superimposed on a full hypomanic/manic episode, or, more relevant here, some hy/manic symptoms superimposed on a full MDD episode. The DSM-5 now recognizes the presence of such presentations, and we have the Mixed Features specifier.
Mixed features is interesting because, not surprisingly, it can lead into full manic or hypomanic episodes, indicating a Bipolar 1 or 2 diagnosis. If people with Bipolar Disorders experience Mixed Features during their MDD phases, it is often correlated to more severe and longer duration of the depression, and higher rates of suicidality have been noted across researchers.
Despite the tendency for many with Mixed Features to develop Bipolar conditions, there are some MDD sufferers whose Mixed Features never seem to evolve that far . This is not to say that these patients lives are more easily endured than someone with distinct mood cycling.
A Case Of Major Depressive Disorder With Mixed Features: Diagnostic And Treatment Issues
Potential conflicts of interest: Dr V. SharmaDrs BowenP. SharmaFunding/support:
To the Editor: Manic symptoms are common in patients with major depressive disorder with the prevalence of mixed depression approaching that observed for pure MDD in some studies., Compared with patients who have pure depression, those with mixed depression have higher rates of comorbid anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and suicidal behavior., While there is increasing evidence that unrecognized bipolar disorder might be a contributing factor to antidepressant resistance in individuals with depression,, it is not clear whether intraepisodic presence of manic symptoms as in mixed depression is also associated with resistance to antidepressant therapy. We describe the successful management of a patient with treatment-resistant depression in whom the chronic use of antidepressants may have led to induction of mixed features and increased risk for suicide.
Laboratory investigations including complete blood count and thyroid functioning showed normal results. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Patient Edition indicated a current diagnosis of chronic, severe MDD without psychotic features and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. A magnetic resonance imaging of the head was normal.
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