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Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major cause of disability-adjusted life years in young adults. Pregnancy complications have previously been associated with BD. The current study aimed to examine the association between perinatal factors and BD. Methods: We included 3,794 subjects from the 1993 Pelotas population-based birth cohort study. We assessed 27 variables at birth and modeled BD onset at 18 and 22 years. Bivariate analysis was performed by means of binomial logistic regression models. The variables with p-values less than 0.05 were included in a multiple regression with confounders. Results: Maternal smoking was associated with a 1.42-fold increased risk of BD at 18 or 22 years old (95%CI 1.091-1.841), and maternal passive exposure to tobacco with a 1.43-fold increased risk (95%CI 1.086-1.875). No association was found between other perinatal factors and BD after controlling for confounders. Conclusion: The results of the present cohort study corroborate previous reports in the literature indicating a negative effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy. These findings can be further tested and support the development of strategies to prevent the onset development of BD.

Abstract Objective This systematic review aims to describe the relationship between psychological resilience and mood disorders. Methods This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The following databases were searched on November 6, 2020: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase. Results Twenty-three articles were included and the majority of the studies included (95.7%) showed that psychological resilience has a positive impact in mood disorders. Our meta-analysis showed that individuals with bipolar disorder presented significantly lower levels of psychological resilience compared to controls (standardized mean difference [SDM]: -0.99 [95% confidence interval {95%CI}: -1.13 to -0.85], p < 0.001). In addition, individuals with depression had significantly lower levels of psychological resilience compared to controls (SDM: -0.71 [95%CI -0.81 to -0.61], p < 0.001). Conclusion Our results showed that individuals with mood disorders are less resilient than individuals without mood disorders. Our findings reinforce the importance of investigating interventions that may help to improve psychological resilience considering its positive impact in the context of mood disorders.

BackgroundThe utility of vocal biomarkers for mental health assessment has gained increasing attention. This study aims to further this line of research by introducing a novel vocal scoring system designed to provide mental fitness tracking insights to users in real-world settings.MethodsA prospective cohort study with 104 outpatient psychiatric participants was conducted to validate the “Mental Fitness Vocal Biomarker” (MFVB) score. The MFVB score was derived from eight vocal features, selected based on literature review. Participants’ mental health symptom severity was assessed using the M3 Checklist, which serves as a transdiagnostic tool for measuring depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar symptoms.ResultsThe MFVB demonstrated an ability to stratify individuals by their risk of elevated mental health symptom severity. Continuous observation enhanced the MFVB’s efficacy, with risk ratios improving from 1.53 (1.09-2.14, p=0.0138) for single 30-second voice samples to 2.00 (1.21-3.30, p=0.0068) for data aggregated over two weeks. A higher risk ratio of 8.50 (2.31-31.25, p=0.0013) was observed in participants who used the MFVB 5-6 times per week, underscoring the utility of frequent and continuous observation. Participant feedback confirmed the user-friendliness of the application and its perceived benefits.ConclusionsThe MFVB is a promising tool for objective mental health tracking in real-world conditions, with potential to be a cost-effective, scalable, and privacy-preserving adjunct to traditional psychiatric assessments. User feedback suggests that vocal biomarkers can offer personalized insights and support clinical therapy and other beneficial activities that are associated with improved mental health risks and outcomes.