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ABSTRACT: Endophenotypes are intermediate phenotypes which are considered a more promising marker of genetic risk than illness itself. While previous research mostly used cognitive deficits, emotional functions are of greater relevance for bipolar disorder regarding the characteristic emotional hyper-reactability and deficient social-emotional competence. Hence, the aim of the present study was to clarify whether empathic abilities can serve as a possible endophenotype of bipolar disorder by applying a newly developed task in bipolar patients and their first-degree relatives. Three components of empathy (emotion recognition, perspective taking and affective responsiveness) have been assessed in a sample of 21 bipolar patients, 21 first-degree relatives and 21 healthy controls. Data analysis indicated significant differences between controls and patients for emotion recognition and affective responsiveness but not for perspective taking. This shows that in addition to difficulties in recognizing facial emotional expressions, bipolar patients have difficulties in identifying emotions they would experience in a given situation. However, the ability to take the perspective of another person in an emotional situation was intact but decreased with increasing severity of residual hypomanic and depressive symptoms. Relatives performed comparably bad on emotion recognition but did not differ from controls or patients in affective responsiveness. This study is the first to show that deficient emotion recognition is the only component of empathy which forms a possible endophenotype of bipolar disorder. This has important implications for prevention strategies. Furthermore, changes in affective responsiveness in first-degree relatives show a potential resilience marker.
Journal of psychiatric research 11/2011; 46(3):382-8. · 3.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Thirty-two problem-oriented interviews with caregivers of patients with bipolar affective disorders were analyzed using content analysis. The 722 statements of caregivers about their experiences of subjective burden because of the illness of their family members were summarized in 49 global statements and correlated by factor analysis to 10 types of burden. In particular, patients' noncompliance as well as the helplessness of the caregivers in interaction with the (changing) depressive and manic symptoms of the ill family members emerged as serious burdens on the caregivers. Whereas female caregivers suffered more from problems regarding quality of relationship with the patient, male caregivers experienced more constraints on their own autonomy, uncertainty concerning their judgment of patients' capacity, and uncertainty because of the changing symptoms of illness. The findings of this study highlight that an appreciation of caregivers' own consternation and information about how best to handle the (uncooperative) behavior of the patient should be taken into account in psychoeducational groups as well as in the daily work routine of professionals.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 01/2011; 81(1):139-48. · 1.29 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The ability to recognize facial emotional expressions is a fundamental skill that is necessary for successful social interaction. Previous studies examining this competency in patients with bipolar disorder have generated mixed results. Since bipolar patients show multiple psychosocial difficulties even after remission, this study was aimed at further elucidating emotion recognition deficits in bipolar patients. Methods and design: Sixty-two stable bipolar out-patients (37 females; 25 males) and 62 matched healthy controls participated in the study. Explicit facial emotion recognition accuracy was measured with a computerized task.
Analysis of emotion recognition performance revealed no gender effect but a significant group effect, indicating significantly worse accuracy in patients with bipolar I. Patients with bipolar II disorder did not differ significantly from healthy controls. These results were not correlated with either residual symptoms or intellectual impairments.
Based on our results, patients with bipolar disorder vary not only in diagnosis, but also in social cognitive functions, all of which should be addressed in clinical treatment. Future studies should clarify whether emotion recognition deficits are involved in the development and maintenance of bipolar disorder.
British Journal of Clinical Psychology 03/2009; 48(Pt 4):363-75. · 1.90 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The study aimed to evaluate if and how online self-help forums are used by patients with bipolar affective disorders.
Within a six-months period 1200 postings of 135 users in two German language forums were analysed with respect to fields of interest and self-help mechanisms.
The topics most discussed were social network of the patients, symptoms of the illness, and medication. Disclosure, online-group cohesion as well as empathy and support were the main self-help mechanisms.
Our study reveals that the social network is very important for patients coping with bipolar affective disorders. We infer that the main interest in participating in online forums for bipolar affective disorders is to share emotions. Attention to those aspects should be given also in psychoeducative programs.
Psychiatrische Praxis 02/2008; 35(1):28-32. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study aimed to examine performance improvement and compliance of schizophrenic patients participating in computerbased cognitive training with X-Cog(R). 20 patients (5 women, 15 men) with the diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD10 F20.X) were trained ten weeks (twice a week, duration 1h) using the software X-Cog(R) in different wards of the Bezirksklinikum Regensburg. After the evaluation of the feedback given by the computer it could be demonstrated that the patients showed marked practice improvements. Moreover it appeared very less leisure hours what could be shown by an evaluation of the regularity of participation. This study gives first indications that X-Cog(R) could be a useful way to increase individual performance, motivation and especially the continuity of participation in a therapy of schizophrenic patients training using a computerbased cognitive training software.
Psychiatrische Praxis 12/2004; 31 Suppl 1:S93-5. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In our study we compare n = 64 in-patient suicides with a group of non-suicide in-patients which received psychiatric treatment during the same period. The matched patient was the next admitted patient. We found a significantly higher portion of schizophrenic and depressed patients in the suicide group, whereas suicides showed more depressive symptoms, more suicidal ideations before the suicide and more subjective suffering. Suicides received more psychopharmaca.
Psychiatrische Praxis 02/2003; 30(1):14-20. · 1.64 Impact Factor
