Barbara Barbini - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Barbara Barbini
All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you... more All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
American Journal of Psychiatry, Oct 8, 2014
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1999
Forty bipolar depressed inpatients underwent three consecutive cycles of total sleep deprivation ... more Forty bipolar depressed inpatients underwent three consecutive cycles of total sleep deprivation (TSD). At the beginning of the study, 20 patients were free of psychotropic drugs and 20 had been receiving lithium medication for at least 6 months. Mood was rated on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression before and after TSD; perceived mood changes during treatment were evaluated with self-administered visual analog scales. Patients undergoing long-term lithium treatment showed a significantly better response to TSD as rated on both scales: 13 of 20 patients (vs. 2 of 20 patients without lithium) showed a sustained response during a follow-up period of 3 months. This preliminary evidence of a positive interaction of TSD and long-term lithium treatment could be explained by a synergistic effect of both treatments on brain serotonergic function, possibly via a desensitization of 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A inhibitory autoreceptors.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 1998
Previous findings showed that, in a subgroup of patients administered heterogeneous antidepressan... more Previous findings showed that, in a subgroup of patients administered heterogeneous antidepressant treatments, perceived mood levels during a major depressive episode fluctuate with day to day changes which follow cyclical patterns (termed ''minicycles''). We investigated the predictability of infradian mood fluctuations during acute depressive episodes in patients standardly medicated with fluvoxamine. We applied time series analysis, by means of autocorrelation techniques, to time lagged serial recordings of perceived mood levels of 20 inpatients (13 Major Depression Recurrent, and 7 Bipolar Depressive Disorders). 5 / 20 patients exhibited predictable cyclical patterns in their perceived symptomathology, 8 / 20 exhibited an uneven, sawtooth pattern of progressive amelioration, and 7 / 20 showed an erratic pattern of unpredictable day-to-day variations. We confirmed the existence and the predictability of cyclical mood patterns in a subgroup of patients. The absence of a linear improvement in perceived mood did not worsen the final response to antidepressant therapy.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 1998
Eighteen inpatients affected by recurrent major depression were monitored in their clinical and b... more Eighteen inpatients affected by recurrent major depression were monitored in their clinical and biological features during the acute episode of illness. Diurnal mood variations rated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and diurnal variations of skin body temperature were measured every 2 h consecutively for 2 days. Circadian rhythmicity of the two parameters was evaluated by cosinor analysis separately for each patient. The inspection of the individual cosine fitting shows that patients with a high circadian rhythmicity in perceived severity of symptomatology tend to show low circadian rhythmicity in skin body temperature, whereas patients with a low VAS oscillation tend to display a higher diurnal variation in skin body temperature. A chi-square test confirmed a statistical significance of the discordance between the two rhythms. We discuss our findings hypothesizing a different degree of entrainment of the disease process to the main circadian pacemaker.
Biological Psychiatry, 1997
Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (phot... more Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (photophilic and non photophilic), which in photophilic patients were correlated with anergia (1).
Biological Psychiatry, 1997
Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (phot... more Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (photophilic and non photophilic), which in photophilic patients were correlated with anergia (1).
Psychiatry Research, 1996
Several reports suggest the role of sleep-wake rhythm in mood disorders. Sleep loss may be a poss... more Several reports suggest the role of sleep-wake rhythm in mood disorders. Sleep loss may be a possible trigger or augmenting factor in mania. In a group of 34 manic bipolar inpatients, we analyzed the correlation between night-time sleep duration and the intensity of manic symptomatology rated consecutively for 3 days with the Young Rating Scale for Mania and the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE). We found significant correlations between sleep duration and NOSIE cluster scores (cooperation and irritability).
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 2008
This review summarizes a scientific dialogue between representatives in non-pharmacological treat... more This review summarizes a scientific dialogue between representatives in non-pharmacological treatment options of affective disorders. Among the recently introduced somatic treatments for depression those with most evidenced efficacy will be discussed. The first part of this article presents current opinions about the clinical applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression. The second part explains the most relevant uses of chronobiology in mood disorders, while the last part deals with the main perspectives on brain imaging techniques in psychiatry. The aim was to bridge gaps between the research evidence and clinical decisions, and reach an agreement on several key points of chronobiological and brain stimulation techniques, as well as on relevant objectives for future research.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2008
P is difference between classes 1 and 2; P ¶ is difference between classes 2 and 3. Binges: Visit... more P is difference between classes 1 and 2; P ¶ is difference between classes 2 and 3. Binges: Visit 0 = [sum of binges between days j14 and j1]; Visit 2 = [sum of binges between days 42 and 55]; Change = {[sum of binges between days 42 and 55] j [sum of binges between days j14 and j1]}/[sum of binges between days j14 and j1]}. z EDI-Bulimia: Visit 0 = [score at Visit 0]; Visit 2 = [score at Visit 2]; Change = {[score at Visit 2] j [score at Visit 0]}.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2010
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates norepinephrine and dopamine via methyl conjugatio... more Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates norepinephrine and dopamine via methyl conjugation, and a G-A transition in the COMT gene (rs4680) influences the enzyme activity. It is a current area of debate whether rs4680 can influence antidepressant response in major depressive disorder, and whether this influence extends to bipolar depression. Chronotherapeutic interventions, such as sleep deprivation and light therapy, are multi-target in nature and are effective in bipolar depression. Here we studied the effect of rs4680 on response to sleep deprivation combined with light therapy (36 h awake followed by a night of undisturbed sleep, with 10,000 lx light administered for 30 min during the night awake and upon awakening) in 87 bipolar depressed inpatients. Patients who were homozygotic for the Val/Val variant showed a significantly less efficient antidepressant effect after the night awake than those who were heterozygotic and homozygotic for the Met variant. This effect of rs4680 is similar to its observed influence on response to serotonergic and noradrenergic drug treatments in major depressive disorder. This is the first study reporting an influence of rs4680 on antidepressant response in bipolar depression. This finding supports the hypothesis of a major role for catecholamines in the mechanism of action of chronotherapeutics, and for rs4680 in modulating this effect.
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2003
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2006
Biological Psychiatry, 2003
A functional polymorphism within the promoter of the serotonin transporter has been shown to infl... more A functional polymorphism within the promoter of the serotonin transporter has been shown to influence the antidepressant response to serotonergic drug treatments and to total sleep deprivation (TSD). The short-term relapse that follows acute response to TSD has been successfully prevented by combining TSD with light therapy. The mechanism of action of this combined treatment is unknown. Methods: We tested the hypothesis that allelic variation of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) could influence the response to the combination of light therapy and TSD. Twenty-two bipolar depressed inpatients were administered a night of TSD combined with 30 min light therapy given during the TSD night and in the morning after recovery sleep. 5-HTTLPR was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Changes in perceived mood were rated on a visual analog scale. Results: Light therapy sustained the effect of TSD. The effect was more marked in homozygotes for the long variant of 5-HTTLPR than in heterozygotes and homozygotes for the short variant. Conclusions: The influence of 5-HTTLPR on response to the combination of TSD and light therapy is similar to that observed on response to TSD and serotonergic drug treatments.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 2007
American Journal of Medical Genetics, 2003
Psychiatry Research, 2000
. The clinical usefulness of total sleep deprivation TSD in the treatment of bipolar depression i... more . The clinical usefulness of total sleep deprivation TSD in the treatment of bipolar depression is hampered by a high-rate short-term relapse. Previous literature has suggested that both long-term lithium treatment and light therapy could successfully prevent relapse. We randomized 115 bipolar depressed inpatients to receive three cycles of TSD, alone or in combination with morning light exposure, given at an intensity of 150 or 2500 lux. Forty-nine Ž . patients were undergoing long-term treatment with lithium salts at least 6 months , while 66 patients were taking no psychotropic medication. Mood was self-rated by the Visual Analogue Scale three times a day during treatment. The results showed that both light therapy and ongoing lithium treatment significantly enhanced the effects of TSD on the perceived mood, with no additional benefit when the two treatments were combined. Subjective sleepiness during TSD, as rated by the self-administered Stanford Sleepiness Scale, was significantly reduced by light exposure, and was correlated with the outcome. This study confirms the possibility of obtaining a sustained antidepressant response to TSD in bipolar patients. ᮊ
American Journal of Psychiatry
Objective: A functional polymorphism in the transcriptional control region upstream of the coding... more Objective: A functional polymorphism in the transcriptional control region upstream of the coding sequence of the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT) has been reported. This polymorphism has been shown to influence the antidepressant response to fluvoxamine and paroxetine. The authors tested the hypothesis that the allelic variation of the 5-HTTlinked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) could influence the response of depressed patients to total sleep deprivation. Method: Sixty-eight drug-free inpatients with bipolar depression underwent a night of total sleep deprivation. 5-HTTLPR was genotyped in these patients. Changes in perceived mood were rated on a visual analogue scale and analyzed by using repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Patients who were homozygotic for the long variant of 5-HTTLPR showed a significantly better mood amelioration after total sleep deprivation than those who were heterozygotic and homozygotic for the short variant. Conclusions: The influence of 5-HTTLPR on response to total sleep deprivation is similar to its observed influence on response to serotonergic drug treatments. This finding supports the hypothesis of a major role for serotonin in the mechanism of action of total sleep deprivation in depression.
Object: Current methods of assessment of major depression are biased by consistent discordancies ... more Object: Current methods of assessment of major depression are biased by consistent discordancies between self-and observer-ratings of depression. Cognitive distortions are a regular core symptom of major depression, and are associated with the development of hopelessness and suicidality.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics
ABSTRACT
All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you... more All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
American Journal of Psychiatry, Oct 8, 2014
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1999
Forty bipolar depressed inpatients underwent three consecutive cycles of total sleep deprivation ... more Forty bipolar depressed inpatients underwent three consecutive cycles of total sleep deprivation (TSD). At the beginning of the study, 20 patients were free of psychotropic drugs and 20 had been receiving lithium medication for at least 6 months. Mood was rated on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression before and after TSD; perceived mood changes during treatment were evaluated with self-administered visual analog scales. Patients undergoing long-term lithium treatment showed a significantly better response to TSD as rated on both scales: 13 of 20 patients (vs. 2 of 20 patients without lithium) showed a sustained response during a follow-up period of 3 months. This preliminary evidence of a positive interaction of TSD and long-term lithium treatment could be explained by a synergistic effect of both treatments on brain serotonergic function, possibly via a desensitization of 5-hydroxytryptamine-1A inhibitory autoreceptors.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 1998
Previous findings showed that, in a subgroup of patients administered heterogeneous antidepressan... more Previous findings showed that, in a subgroup of patients administered heterogeneous antidepressant treatments, perceived mood levels during a major depressive episode fluctuate with day to day changes which follow cyclical patterns (termed ''minicycles''). We investigated the predictability of infradian mood fluctuations during acute depressive episodes in patients standardly medicated with fluvoxamine. We applied time series analysis, by means of autocorrelation techniques, to time lagged serial recordings of perceived mood levels of 20 inpatients (13 Major Depression Recurrent, and 7 Bipolar Depressive Disorders). 5 / 20 patients exhibited predictable cyclical patterns in their perceived symptomathology, 8 / 20 exhibited an uneven, sawtooth pattern of progressive amelioration, and 7 / 20 showed an erratic pattern of unpredictable day-to-day variations. We confirmed the existence and the predictability of cyclical mood patterns in a subgroup of patients. The absence of a linear improvement in perceived mood did not worsen the final response to antidepressant therapy.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 1998
Eighteen inpatients affected by recurrent major depression were monitored in their clinical and b... more Eighteen inpatients affected by recurrent major depression were monitored in their clinical and biological features during the acute episode of illness. Diurnal mood variations rated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and diurnal variations of skin body temperature were measured every 2 h consecutively for 2 days. Circadian rhythmicity of the two parameters was evaluated by cosinor analysis separately for each patient. The inspection of the individual cosine fitting shows that patients with a high circadian rhythmicity in perceived severity of symptomatology tend to show low circadian rhythmicity in skin body temperature, whereas patients with a low VAS oscillation tend to display a higher diurnal variation in skin body temperature. A chi-square test confirmed a statistical significance of the discordance between the two rhythms. We discuss our findings hypothesizing a different degree of entrainment of the disease process to the main circadian pacemaker.
Biological Psychiatry, 1997
Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (phot... more Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (photophilic and non photophilic), which in photophilic patients were correlated with anergia (1).
Biological Psychiatry, 1997
Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (phot... more Aim: It has been demonstrated that schizophrenics show different pattems of Ught preference (photophilic and non photophilic), which in photophilic patients were correlated with anergia (1).
Psychiatry Research, 1996
Several reports suggest the role of sleep-wake rhythm in mood disorders. Sleep loss may be a poss... more Several reports suggest the role of sleep-wake rhythm in mood disorders. Sleep loss may be a possible trigger or augmenting factor in mania. In a group of 34 manic bipolar inpatients, we analyzed the correlation between night-time sleep duration and the intensity of manic symptomatology rated consecutively for 3 days with the Young Rating Scale for Mania and the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE). We found significant correlations between sleep duration and NOSIE cluster scores (cooperation and irritability).
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 2008
This review summarizes a scientific dialogue between representatives in non-pharmacological treat... more This review summarizes a scientific dialogue between representatives in non-pharmacological treatment options of affective disorders. Among the recently introduced somatic treatments for depression those with most evidenced efficacy will be discussed. The first part of this article presents current opinions about the clinical applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of depression. The second part explains the most relevant uses of chronobiology in mood disorders, while the last part deals with the main perspectives on brain imaging techniques in psychiatry. The aim was to bridge gaps between the research evidence and clinical decisions, and reach an agreement on several key points of chronobiological and brain stimulation techniques, as well as on relevant objectives for future research.
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2008
P is difference between classes 1 and 2; P ¶ is difference between classes 2 and 3. Binges: Visit... more P is difference between classes 1 and 2; P ¶ is difference between classes 2 and 3. Binges: Visit 0 = [sum of binges between days j14 and j1]; Visit 2 = [sum of binges between days 42 and 55]; Change = {[sum of binges between days 42 and 55] j [sum of binges between days j14 and j1]}/[sum of binges between days j14 and j1]}. z EDI-Bulimia: Visit 0 = [score at Visit 0]; Visit 2 = [score at Visit 2]; Change = {[score at Visit 2] j [score at Visit 0]}.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2010
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates norepinephrine and dopamine via methyl conjugatio... more Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates norepinephrine and dopamine via methyl conjugation, and a G-A transition in the COMT gene (rs4680) influences the enzyme activity. It is a current area of debate whether rs4680 can influence antidepressant response in major depressive disorder, and whether this influence extends to bipolar depression. Chronotherapeutic interventions, such as sleep deprivation and light therapy, are multi-target in nature and are effective in bipolar depression. Here we studied the effect of rs4680 on response to sleep deprivation combined with light therapy (36 h awake followed by a night of undisturbed sleep, with 10,000 lx light administered for 30 min during the night awake and upon awakening) in 87 bipolar depressed inpatients. Patients who were homozygotic for the Val/Val variant showed a significantly less efficient antidepressant effect after the night awake than those who were heterozygotic and homozygotic for the Met variant. This effect of rs4680 is similar to its observed influence on response to serotonergic and noradrenergic drug treatments in major depressive disorder. This is the first study reporting an influence of rs4680 on antidepressant response in bipolar depression. This finding supports the hypothesis of a major role for catecholamines in the mechanism of action of chronotherapeutics, and for rs4680 in modulating this effect.
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2003
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2006
Biological Psychiatry, 2003
A functional polymorphism within the promoter of the serotonin transporter has been shown to infl... more A functional polymorphism within the promoter of the serotonin transporter has been shown to influence the antidepressant response to serotonergic drug treatments and to total sleep deprivation (TSD). The short-term relapse that follows acute response to TSD has been successfully prevented by combining TSD with light therapy. The mechanism of action of this combined treatment is unknown. Methods: We tested the hypothesis that allelic variation of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) could influence the response to the combination of light therapy and TSD. Twenty-two bipolar depressed inpatients were administered a night of TSD combined with 30 min light therapy given during the TSD night and in the morning after recovery sleep. 5-HTTLPR was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Changes in perceived mood were rated on a visual analog scale. Results: Light therapy sustained the effect of TSD. The effect was more marked in homozygotes for the long variant of 5-HTTLPR than in heterozygotes and homozygotes for the short variant. Conclusions: The influence of 5-HTTLPR on response to the combination of TSD and light therapy is similar to that observed on response to TSD and serotonergic drug treatments.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 2007
American Journal of Medical Genetics, 2003
Psychiatry Research, 2000
. The clinical usefulness of total sleep deprivation TSD in the treatment of bipolar depression i... more . The clinical usefulness of total sleep deprivation TSD in the treatment of bipolar depression is hampered by a high-rate short-term relapse. Previous literature has suggested that both long-term lithium treatment and light therapy could successfully prevent relapse. We randomized 115 bipolar depressed inpatients to receive three cycles of TSD, alone or in combination with morning light exposure, given at an intensity of 150 or 2500 lux. Forty-nine Ž . patients were undergoing long-term treatment with lithium salts at least 6 months , while 66 patients were taking no psychotropic medication. Mood was self-rated by the Visual Analogue Scale three times a day during treatment. The results showed that both light therapy and ongoing lithium treatment significantly enhanced the effects of TSD on the perceived mood, with no additional benefit when the two treatments were combined. Subjective sleepiness during TSD, as rated by the self-administered Stanford Sleepiness Scale, was significantly reduced by light exposure, and was correlated with the outcome. This study confirms the possibility of obtaining a sustained antidepressant response to TSD in bipolar patients. ᮊ
American Journal of Psychiatry
Objective: A functional polymorphism in the transcriptional control region upstream of the coding... more Objective: A functional polymorphism in the transcriptional control region upstream of the coding sequence of the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT) has been reported. This polymorphism has been shown to influence the antidepressant response to fluvoxamine and paroxetine. The authors tested the hypothesis that the allelic variation of the 5-HTTlinked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) could influence the response of depressed patients to total sleep deprivation. Method: Sixty-eight drug-free inpatients with bipolar depression underwent a night of total sleep deprivation. 5-HTTLPR was genotyped in these patients. Changes in perceived mood were rated on a visual analogue scale and analyzed by using repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Patients who were homozygotic for the long variant of 5-HTTLPR showed a significantly better mood amelioration after total sleep deprivation than those who were heterozygotic and homozygotic for the short variant. Conclusions: The influence of 5-HTTLPR on response to total sleep deprivation is similar to its observed influence on response to serotonergic drug treatments. This finding supports the hypothesis of a major role for serotonin in the mechanism of action of total sleep deprivation in depression.
Object: Current methods of assessment of major depression are biased by consistent discordancies ... more Object: Current methods of assessment of major depression are biased by consistent discordancies between self-and observer-ratings of depression. Cognitive distortions are a regular core symptom of major depression, and are associated with the development of hopelessness and suicidality.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B Neuropsychiatric Genetics
ABSTRACT