Can Residual Symptoms During Inter-Episode Period after Partial Remission in Bipolar I Disorder Have Cyclic Patterns with Specific Frequencies?

Psychiatry Investig. 2018 Mar;15(3):330-334. doi: 10.30773/pi.2017.08.23. Epub 2018 Feb 28.

Abstract

This case report aimed to describe cyclic patterns of residual mood symptoms in partially remitted bipolar I patient. In a 24-year-old woman with bipolar I disorder, residual mood symptoms measured by self-rated daily mood chart for 18 months were analyzed using wavelet analysis. A 146-day periodicity was prominent for the first 100 days after discharge. Between 100-200 days, 146-day periodicity was progressively diminished and 21- and 8-day periodicity was prominent. Between 200-516 days, 21-day periodicity was diminished and 85-day periodicity became prominent. This case suggest that bipolar patients might have cyclic residual symptoms with specific frequencies.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder; Cyclicity; Rapid cycling; Residual symptom; Wavelet analysis.