A Linear Analysis Mixed Model Phenotyper (LAMP) for Bipolar Disorder: Evaluating the Impact of Medication, Substance Use Disorders, and Comorbidities on Mood Trajectories

Background

Bipolar disorder is a complex psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent mood episodes and fluctuating symptom severity. Our study investigates post-diagnosis complexities using 17-year longitudinal data from the Prechter Bipolar Research Program.

Methods

We analyzed mood trajectories of 525 bipolar I disorder (BP1) and 150 bipolar II disorder (BP2) patients, using the Linear Analysis Mixed Model Phenotyper (LAMP) to identify subgroups. This approach revealed shared and distinct patterns across individual trajectories, classifying these subgroups into meaningful longitudinal phenotypes. Regression modeling was then applied to identify associations between these phenotypes and relevant factors.

Results

We found that medication use and alcohol use disorder significantly impacted long-term mood trajectories. Polypharmacy was associated with resistant/worsening trajectories in both BP1 (PHQ-9: OR: 1.09, CI: 1.02–1.17) and BP2 (GAD-7: OR: 1.21, CI: 1.05–1.43), with each additional medication increasing the risk of a worse trajectory by 9% and 21%, respectively. In BP1, antidepressant use improved trajectories (PHQ-9: OR: 0.40, CI: 0.19-0.83), but when combined with antipsychotics, increasing use frequency from 0% to 20% raised the risk of resistant/worsening trajectories (OR: 2.09, CI: 1.33– 3.28). In BP2, antipsychotic use was associated with improved trajectories (PHQ-9: OR: 0.04, CI: 0.00-0.56). Alcohol use disorder in BP1 increased resistant/worsening risk by 83% (PHQ-9: OR: 1.83, CI: 1.15-2.93).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that polypharmacy and alcohol use disorder contribute to resistant or worsening mood trajectories. In BP1, while antidepressants are beneficial, their combination with antipsychotics substantially increases risk, highlighting the need for individualized, diagnosis-specific treatment approaches.

Highlights

• LAMP analysis pipeline aided in improving treatment approaches in bipolar disorder.

• 17 years of PrBP data provided comprehensive analysis of long-term mood trajectories.

• Polypharmacy and alcohol use disorder worsened mood trajectory.

• The combination of antidepressants and antipsychotics worsened mood trajectory.