Bipolar Disorder Symptoms in Old Age: Gender and Age Differences Network Analysis
Berta Ausín1, Miguel Ángel Castellanos1, Manuel Muñoz1
1https://ror.org/02p0gd045Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
The Spanish Journal of Psychology
|November 26, 2025
Summary
This study reveals distinct symptom network patterns in older adults with bipolar disorder (BD) based on gender and age. Understanding these differences is key for personalized treatment approaches in geriatric mental health.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Network Analysis in Mental Health
- Bipolar Disorder Research
Background:
- Older-age bipolar disorder (OABD) presents with high variability in clinical course.
- Bipolar disorder (BD) manifestation and progression differ between males and females.
- Understanding OABD requires nuanced approaches considering demographic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a network analysis of symptoms in older adults with bipolar disorder (BD).
- To explore gender and age-related differences in OABD symptom networks.
- To inform personalized treatment strategies for geriatric BD.
Main Methods:
- Symptom network analysis using the InsingFit package (eLasso procedure).
- Sample comprised 555 individuals aged 65+ from the MentDis_ICF65+ study in Madrid.
- Analysis stratified by gender and age groups (65-74 and 75-84).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in network strength, closeness, and betweenness were observed between genders and age groups.
- Female networks were sparser, with two distinct subnetworks (talkativeness/racing thoughts and consequences/sleep/grandiosity/agitation).
- Male networks were denser, with greater symptom interconnections, notably between racing thoughts and grandiosity.
Conclusions:
- OABD symptom networks exhibit significant variations based on gender and age.
- These findings support a dimensional view of OABD.
- Considering gender and age is crucial for improving the understanding and personalization of OABD treatments.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bipolar Disorder
606
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
606
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
180
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
180
02:12Relationship Formation
45.2K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
45.2K
01:27Panic Disorder
590
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
590
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
217
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
217
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
186
Geriatric patients show significant variation in how their bodies process medications, which can change how effective and safe treatments are. The liver is the primary organ where drug metabolism occurs, involving two main types of chemical reactions: phase I and II. Phase I metabolism is driven by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which includes key types such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. Research indicates that while aging doesn't notably alter the levels or activity of these enzymes, it...
186