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The Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder — Whalespan

Content›Video›The Science & Treatment of B…

The Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Andrew Huberman2h 20m · 2022-07-25

Support Rate

74%

161 of 217 claims supported

Support rate

161 of 217 claims supported

161 supported56 partial / not

Claims from this content

149

✓Well SupportedInside Tracker's platform provides actionable protocols to adjust blood markers into ideal ranges for health.✓Well SupportedRegular blood work is essential for monitoring factors impacting immediate and long-term health.✓Well SupportedMomentous supplements are offered as a single source for supplements discussed on the Huberman Lab Podcast.✓Well SupportedSupplements can provide benefits for enhancing sleep quality, improving focus, supporting hormones, and improving mental and physical health and performance.✓Well SupportedYerba mate tea can stimulate GLP-1 release and act as an appetite suppressant.

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A. Volkovreader

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Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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✕Not Supported

Certain smokey-flavored forms of yerba mate are a concern for carcinogenicity.

✓Well SupportedDHA makes cell membranes more flexible and fluid, which is important for neuronal function.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin is a psychedelic compound being actively pursued for its capacity to treat major depressive disorder in laboratory and psychiatric settings.

✓Well SupportedThe circuits that atrophy in bipolar disorder are responsible for interoception, the understanding of the body's internal states.

✓Well SupportedSSRIs inhibit the activity of the serotonin transporter, slowing serotonin deactivation and increasing extracellular serotonin.

✓Well SupportedIndividuals with manic bipolar disorder have a 20 to 30 times greater probability of suicide compared to the general population.

✓Well SupportedPoets have the highest incidence of depression or mania among eminent individuals, with up to 90% experiencing either condition.

✓Well SupportedBlinkist provides 15-minute condensed takeaways from nonfiction books, which can help jog memory and surface missed key points.

✓Well SupportedThe high heritability of bipolar disorder (85%) indicates a genetic susceptibility, but not a deterministic gene or gene cluster for the disorder.

✓Well SupportedLithium prevents neurotoxicity in bipolar disorder by downregulating receptor number.

◐Partially SupportedHigh dosages of myo-inositol (10-18 grams) have been used with limited success for certain OCD symptoms and can cause significant gastric discomfort.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals experiencing mania can be highly distractible and easily orient to various stimuli.

◐Partially SupportedPrescribing clozapine requires weekly blood cell checks due to potential serious side effects like changes in blood counts.

✓Well SupportedBipolar type one disorder is an extraordinarily genetically determined psychiatric disorder with concordance rates in identical twins raised apart exceeding 70%.

✓Well SupportedBiological age determined by DNA tests is important for longevity and understanding current health needs.

◐Partially SupportedOveractivity in the visual system leads to the removal of postsynaptic receptors, reducing neuron sensitivity.

◐Partially SupportedKetamine acts on the glutamate system by blocking the binding of glutamate to the NMDA receptor, which is involved in neuroplasticity.

◐Partially SupportedMyo-inositol at 900 milligrams may improve sleep and reduce anxiety.

◐Partially SupportedIdentical twins have a 50% probability of both experiencing major depression if one twin has it.

◐Partially SupportedLithium increases BDNF, which makes neurons and their connections more likely to change and adapt.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with bipolar 2 disorder are symptom-free approximately 45% of the time and experience hypomanic states about 4-5% of the time.

◐Partially SupportedCognitive Behavioral Therapy appears to be the most effective talk therapy for bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedMonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) increase neurotransmitter availability by inhibiting their breakdown.

◐Partially SupportedInositol and omega-3 fatty acids have shown effectiveness in adjusting the symptoms of bipolar disorder in some studies.

◐Partially SupportedEnvironmental factors like early life stress and trauma can exacerbate susceptibility to bipolar disorder in genetically predisposed individuals.

◐Partially SupportedKetamine has shown effectiveness in treating major depression, bipolar depression, PTSD, OCD, anxiety, and various forms of substance addiction.

◐Partially SupportedLithium urate can calm guinea pigs injected with toxic urea.

◐Partially SupportedLithium is a naturally occurring substance used as a successful treatment for bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedLithium and ketamine exert their actions largely through effects on homeostatic neuroplasticity.

◐Partially SupportedDrug therapies are most effective for bipolar disorder when combined with talk therapies.

◐Partially SupportedYerba mate can stimulate the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), offering mild appetite suppression and caffeine benefits simultaneously.

◐Partially SupportedYerba mate provides a caffeine kick for focus, work, and exercise early in the day.

◐Partially SupportedUnchecked inflammation, either chronic or of high amplitude, is detrimental to health.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with diagnosed Bipolar II disorder spend approximately half of their time in a depressed state.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar II disorder can involve hypomanic episodes lasting four days or less, characterized by increased energy, irritability, euphoria, and reduced sleep.

◐Partially SupportedManic episodes, regardless of duration, are the defining criteria for bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedExcitotoxicity, where hyperactivity of certain brain circuits leads to neuron death through excessive calcium and glutamate, can be prevented by lithium.

✓Well SupportedSleep deprivation can trigger manic episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedAndrew Huberman uses 900 mg of myo-inositol every third night to improve sleep depth and quality.

◐Partially SupportedGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) suppresses appetite through gut distension and brain mechanisms in the hypothalamus.

◐Partially SupportedHigh-dose fish oil supplementation (9.6 grams/day for 4 months) significantly reduced symptoms of bipolar depression compared to olive oil.

✓Well SupportedHigh concentrations of DHA and EPA in neuronal membranes facilitate efficient neuronal firing and brain function.

◐Partially SupportedAdministering lithium to human patients can reduce symptoms of mania.

◐Partially SupportedThere is no known controlled clinical trial exploring psilocybin for bipolar disorder mania.

◐Partially SupportedFamily-focused therapy is important for bipolar disorder as family members can help monitor symptoms.

◐Partially SupportedUrine from manic patients contains a substance that can induce manic-like symptoms in guinea pigs.

◐Partially SupportedThe antidepressant effects of ketamine appear to be short-lived, typically lasting at least 3 days after treatment.

◐Partially SupportedA flight of ideas, characterized by rapid and illogical topic switching in speech, is typical of manic episodes.

◐Partially SupportedOmega-3 fatty acid supplementation (e.g., 4 grams/day of 70% EPA to DHA) has been shown in one study to worsen mania symptoms over 16 weeks.

✓Well SupportedKetamine has shown significant antidepressant effects in a subtype of treatment-resistant depressed patients, with immediate but short-lived impact.

◐Partially SupportedHomeostatic plasticity can make a neural circuit more or less excitable by altering the number of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

◐Partially SupportedInflammation is a natural adaptive response critical for positive adaptations to exercise, such as muscle repair and growth.

◐Partially SupportedInjecting guinea pigs with urine from manic patients appeared to make the guinea pigs more manic.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with bipolar 1 disorder spend approximately 15% of their time in a manic or mixed manic state, characterized by sleeplessness, irritability, pressured speech, and grandiosity lasting seven days or more.

◐Partially SupportedAspects of manic episodes and major depression can contribute to creativity.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar 2 disorder can be mistaken for major depression, especially if self-medicated with substances.

◐Partially SupportedHypomania, non-pathologic sadness, grief, or nostalgia can potentially lead to positive outcomes.

✕Not SupportedLifestyle interventions alone are insufficient to prevent extreme mania and depression in bipolar disorder.

✕Not SupportedCannabis does not appear to be effective for treating the manic or major depressive phases of bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedHyperactivity of neural circuits in bipolar disorder may transition to hypoactivity over time, possibly due to circuit death.

◐Partially SupportedDiagnosing manic episodes is challenging due to reliance on subjective conversation rather than objective biomarkers and potential patient impairment in communication.

◐Partially SupportedGLP-1 can dramatically suppress appetite and is being explored for treating type 2 diabetes, other forms of diabetes, and obesity, leading to weight loss.

◐Partially SupportedThe typical age of onset for bipolar disorder is between 20 and 25 years old.

◐Partially SupportedThe biological principle of parallel pathways, where the brain and body act in concert, is fundamental to biological organization.

◐Partially SupportedTreatments for bipolar depression, including lithium, behavioral therapies like TMS, and high-dose omega-3 supplementation, may exert effects at a reductionist level related to neural circuitry.

◐Partially SupportedRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used to reduce limbic system activity or activate neural circuits for top-down control.

◐Partially SupportedCognitive Behavioral Therapy can help adjust responses to anxiety and potentially lower doses of bipolar disorder medications.

◐Partially SupportedA family history of bipolar disorder warrants vigilance for the condition in oneself and other family members.

◐Partially SupportedManic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder can lead to financial ruin, unwanted pregnancies, STIs, and fractured interpersonal relationships.

◐Partially SupportedA diagnosis of a manic episode requires at least three specific symptoms persisting for at least seven days for a bipolar 1 diagnosis.

◐Partially SupportedLithium citrate at a dose of 20 grains three times a day may help manage recurrent mania.

◐Partially SupportedNeurons communicate via neurotransmitters released into the synaptic cleft, which bind to receptors on postsynaptic neurons.

◐Partially SupportedFinancial stress from excessive spending during manic episodes can worsen subsequent depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedBorderline personality disorder is characterized by dramatic mood shifts and maladaptive responses to external factors or relationships.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with bipolar disorder experience manic or major depressive episodes independent of external stimuli or environmental triggers.

◐Partially SupportedUrea levels are the same in both manic and non-manic patients.

◐Partially SupportedTalk therapy alone is rarely effective for bipolar depression or bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedSerotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine levels influence mental and physical health.

◐Partially SupportedHigh-dose omega-3 supplementation may improve depressive and some manic symptoms in bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedCommercial clinics advertising repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) should be approached with caution unless associated with a research institution knowledgeable in the technique.

◐Partially SupportedCannabis may potentially help with sleep in individuals experiencing insomnia, although Trazodone or benzodiazepines are more commonly prescribed for sleep during manic episodes.

◐Partially SupportedLithium treatment requires careful monitoring of blood levels due to toxicity and variable patient response.

◐Partially SupportedOmega-3 supplementation can bring brain and neural circuit changes in bipolar disorder closer to those observed in healthy subjects.

◐Partially SupportedAvoiding ineffective treatments for bipolar disorder leads to more successful outcomes due to the disorder's time-sensitive nature.

◐Partially SupportedPressured speech, lack of sleep, and increased energy associated with mania are generally not conducive to positive outcomes and often lead to negative consequences.

◐Partially SupportedCertain aspects of mania are associated with creativity, and this association is supported by data.

◐Partially SupportedObsessive-compulsive tendencies can be beneficial to individuals.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder (BP-1 or BP-2) carries a high risk of suicide.

◐Partially SupportedPsychiatric conditions like OCD and bipolar disorder carry tremendous maladaptive weight.

◐Partially SupportedMyo-inositol, at dosages of 10-18 grams, has been used with limited success to manage certain symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

◐Partially SupportedLithium's inability to be patented as a naturally occurring element slowed its adoption by drug companies.

◐Partially SupportedMyo-inositol is involved in second messenger pathways within cells.

◐Partially SupportedInositol, lithium, and omega-3 fatty acids can alter cell membrane fluidity.

◐Partially SupportedThe FDA approved lithium for manic bipolar disorder treatment in 1970.

◐Partially SupportedUp to 20% of people will suffer from major depression at some point in their life.

◐Partially SupportedElectroconvulsive therapy is primarily useful for treatment-resistant depression and does not directly target the manic aspects of bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedInterpersonal and social rhythm therapy focuses on how individuals relate to others.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder manic or major depressive episodes can occur without an external trigger, unlike borderline personality disorder which almost always has a trigger.

◐Partially SupportedThe expression of nervous system function is an interaction between genes and environment.

◐Partially SupportedSome patients treated with lithium have experienced negative side effects.

✕Not SupportedElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is invasive, requires hospitalization and anesthesia, can be costly, and is associated with memory loss, often ruling it out as a first-line treatment.

◐Partially SupportedHomeostatic plasticity, membrane fluidity, and receptor movement in neurons are present in everyone.

◐Partially SupportedHomeostatic plasticity is a neural balancing mechanism that regulates circuit activity by adjusting neurotransmitter receptor numbers.

◐Partially SupportedAn earlier onset of bipolar episodes is correlated with a higher likelihood of the disorder being a stable psychological feature.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with Bipolar I disorder can transition between manic and severe major depressive episodes.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder is associated with a 20-30% higher incidence of suicide compared to the general population.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar 1 disorder is characterized by extended periods of mania.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder impacts approximately 1% of the population.

◐Partially SupportedThe limbic system is a collection of brain structures responsible for shifting overall states from calm to alert and focused, and is intimately related to the autonomic nervous system.

◐Partially SupportedA longitudinal study has analyzed changes in structural connectivity and neuroimaging data, including connectomics, in young people at high genetic risk for bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce activity in specific neural circuits, increase neuroplasticity, and reduce depressive and manic episodes.

◐Partially SupportedDisruptions in the limbic system circuitry appear to be central to bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedOmega-3 fatty acid supplementation has a mechanistic basis for supporting neural circuitry and neuroplasticity in bipolar disorder by altering cell membrane fluidity.

◐Partially SupportedLithium can protect against neurotoxic effects caused by hyperactivity in certain brain circuits, which may be present in individuals with bipolar depression early in the disease expression.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder presentation varies significantly between individuals, with some experiencing rapid cycling such as three days manic, three days normal, three days manic, then three days depression.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar 2 disorder is characterized by hypomanic episodes lasting about 4 days or less and often includes depressive episodes.

◐Partially SupportedManic episodes can be caused by factors other than bipolar disorder, including traumatic brain injury, seizures, medications, or corticosteroids.

◐Partially SupportedNeuroplasticity allows the brain to change in response to experience, for both beneficial and detrimental outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar 1 disorder is characterized by manic episodes lasting at least seven days and does not necessarily include depressive episodes.

◐Partially SupportedLifestyle interventions can support the nervous system and psyche in individuals with bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedBenzodiazepines and Trazodone reduce neuronal excitability via the GABA system to facilitate sleep during manic episodes.

✕Not SupportedBipolar disorder requires appropriate chemistry and prescription drug approaches from a psychiatrist due to its intensity and high suicide risk.

◐Partially SupportedNavigating drug treatments for bipolar disorder should be done by a board-certified psychiatrist in close discussion with the patient and ideally family members.

◐Partially SupportedLithium may protect against interoception circuit atrophy in bipolar disorder through anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective effects, and BDNF increase.

◐Partially SupportedLithium's toxicity, side effects, and requirement for ongoing blood testing drive the need for new treatments for bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedKetamine increases the number of receptors in the postsynaptic neuron, leading to greater excitability and electrical activity within neural circuits.

◐Partially SupportedLithium is a potent anti-inflammatory that can suppress inflammation in neural tissues and the brain.

◐Partially SupportedThere are numerous drug treatments for bipolar disorder, targeting different phases.

◐Partially SupportedLithium and ketamine are available for treating bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedTreatment for bipolar disorder requires addressing both manic and depressive episodes.

◐Partially SupportedClozapine can be prescribed as a sedative to help individuals in manic episodes sleep.

◐Partially SupportedOmega-3 supplementation is a consideration for bipolar disorder treatment, with potential direct effects on neurons and neural circuits, in addition to indirect effects via the gut microbiome.

◐Partially SupportedElectroconvulsive therapy is an effective treatment for treatment-resistant major depression.

◐Partially SupportedAccurate diagnosis of bipolar depression and its stage often relies on reports from people around the patient due to impaired interoception.

◐Partially SupportedFamily-focused therapy for bipolar disorder helps patients and their families predict and navigate conditions that can trigger manic and depressive episodes.

◐Partially SupportedUnderactive neural circuits become more sensitive to neurotransmitters, increasing their potential influence when activity resumes.

◐Partially SupportedObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with significant suffering and lost time at work.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder types 1 and 2 are debilitating and can slow life trajectory if not treated.

◐Partially SupportedElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a promising treatment for bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedGrandiosity is a common symptom of manic bipolar disorder.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder is a serious condition that requires consultation with a qualified health professional if suspected.

◐Partially SupportedBipolar disorder affects approximately 1% of the global population, whereas major depression affects 10-17% of the population.

◐Partially SupportedAgitation, including physical restlessness and difficulty remaining still, is a common presentation in manic episodes.

◐Partially SupportedBorderline personality disorder is a common and serious disorder with promising emerging treatments.