Gamma oscillations predict treatment response to aripiprazole in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a challenging issue. Aripiprazole monotherapy is a recommended option for the treatment of mania in BD. The electrophysiological markers of treatment response to aripiprazole could be potentially identified by quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG).

METHODS

Twenty-four patients with BD were analysed retrospectively. Based on the percentage reduction in Young Mania Rating Scale, they were classified as responders (N = 14) and non-responders (N = 10) to aripiprazole monotherapy. Their resting-state qEEG recordings were examined. Spectral power across all frequency bands were calculated. Absolute powers for all frequency bands were compared between these groups.

RESULTS

Independent sample Mann-Whitney U test revealed that patients who did not respond to aripiprazole had greater gamma power than aripiprazole treatment responders.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the present findings, it can be proposed that excess in gamma power could be the electrophysiological biomarkers of unresponsiveness to aripiprazole treatment in BD.