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Postural control in bipolar disorder: increased sway area and decreased dynamical complexity
Amanda R Bolbecker1, S Lee Hong, Jerillyn S Kent
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 26, 2011
Summary
Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) exhibit impaired postural control, showing greater body sway and reduced complexity in movement. These deficits are exacerbated when visual information is unavailable, indicating issues with sensorimotor integration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with structural and functional brain abnormalities.
- Key brain regions for postural control, such as the cerebellum, brainstem, and basal ganglia, are affected in BD.
- Previous findings suggest potential deficits in motor control among individuals with BD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate postural control deficits in individuals with bipolar disorder.
- To compare postural sway and complexity between BD patients and healthy controls.
- To examine the influence of visual conditions on postural stability in BD.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen participants with bipolar disorder and 16 healthy controls stood on a force platform for 2 minutes under four visual/base conditions.
- Postural sway was quantified using center of pressure measurements (sway area).
- Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) assessed time-series complexity in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions.
Main Results:
- The bipolar disorder group demonstrated significantly increased sway area, indicating poorer postural control.
- Reduced complexity in the medio-lateral direction was observed in the BD group, suggesting altered postural correction strategies.
- Significant interactions between diagnostic group and visual condition indicated impaired sway correction in BD participants without visual input.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with bipolar disorder exhibit significant deficits in postural control.
- These deficits are characterized by increased sway magnitude and reduced movement complexity, suggesting impaired sensorimotor integration.
- BD patients show a diminished ability to adapt postural control strategies, particularly when relying less on visual cues.
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