Sleep changes during a spontaneous manic episode: PSG assessment in a clinical context.

Sleep plays a key role in the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of mood disorders. However, only a few studies have investigated sleep architecture during the manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder (BD) and changes in sleep parameters that follow clinical variations. Twenty-one patients (8 males, 13 females) affected by BD, manic phase, underwent polysomnographic recordings (PSG) at the beginning of the admission in our ward (T0) and after three weeks of hospital treatment (T1). All participants were clinically evaluated using Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). During the admission, we observed an increase in both quantity (Total Sleep Time - TST) and quality (Sleep Efficiency - SE) of sleep. In addition, clinical improvement, evaluated with YMRS and PSQI scales, was accompanied by a significant increase in the percentage of REM sleep. According to our findings, the improvement of manic symptoms is accompanied by an increase in "REM pressure" (increase in REM% and REM density, reduction of REM latency). Overall, changes in sleep architecture appear to be markers sensitive to clinical variations during manic phases of Bipolar Disorder.

Clinical and personality profile of depressed suicide attempters: A preliminary study at the open-door policy Mood Disorder Unit of San Raffaele Hospital.

Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon with high rates among psychiatric inpatients. Mood disorders and personality dysfunctions represent relevant risk factors for suicides attempts and suicidal ideation. Our study aims to investigate the role of the co-occurrence of clinical variables (duration of depressive state, previous suicide attempts), socio-demographic variables (gender, employment and civil status) and narcissistic personality features in the suicide risk of admitted psychiatric patients affected by a mood disorder. The sample was composed of 93 patients consecutively admitted in an open ward psychiatric Unit. Forty-eight participants had a positive history of previous suicide attempts: the suicide attempters (SA) were mostly female, unemployed and married. The SA group were observed to have suffered from a depressive episode with a longer duration; moreover in the SA group, the presence of active suicidal ideation was significantly related to a higher number of previous suicide attempts. In the whole sample, suicidal ideation was significantly related to narcissistic vulnerability personality features. Using a multidimensional approach, the present study allows a preliminary profiling of patients at risk for suicidal behavior during hospitalization.