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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
Published on: May 2, 2025
Insulin resistance and outcome in bipolar disorder
Cynthia V Calkin1, Martina Ruzickova1, Rudolf Uher1
1Cynthia V. Calkin, MD, CCFP, FRCPC, Martina Ruzickova, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; Rudolf Uher, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and Institute of Psychiatry, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, UK; Tomas Hajek, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and Department of Psychiatry, 3rd School of Medicine, Prague, Charles University, Czech Republic; Claire M. Slaney, RN, Julie S. Garnham, RNBN, Capital District Health Authority, Halifax, Canada; M. Claire O'Donovan, MB, FRCPC, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; Martin Alda, MD, FRCPC, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and Department of Psychiatry, 3rd School of Medicine, Prague, Charles University, Czech Republic.
Background:
Little is known about the impact of insulin resistance on bipolar disorder.
Aims:
To examine the relationships between insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and clinical course and treatment outcomes in bipolar disorder.
Method:
We measured fasting glucose and insulin in 121 adults with bipolar disorder. We diagnosed type 2 diabetes and determined insulin resistance. The National Institute of Mental Health Life Chart was used to record the course of bipolar disorder and the Alda scale to establish response to prophylactic lithium treatment.
Results:
Patients with bipolar disorder and type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance had three times higher odds of a chronic course of bipolar disorder compared with euglycaemic patients (50% and 48.7% respectively v. 27.3%, odds ratio (OR) = 3.07, P = 0.007), three times higher odds of rapid cycling (38.5% and 39.5% respectively v. 18.2%, OR = 3.13, P = 0.012) and were more likely to be refractory to lithium treatment (36.8% and 36.7% respectively v. 3.2%, OR = 8.40, P<0.0001). All associations remained significant after controlling for antipsychotic exposure and body mass index in sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
Comorbid insulin resistance may be an important factor in resistance to treatment in bipolar disorder.
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