Mapping global evidence of caregiver experiences in bipolar disorder in low and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) imposes significant social, psychological, and economic burdens on individuals and their caregivers. While developing treatments for BD patients is crucial, supportive interventions for caregivers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are equally important, given the limited resources and healthcare infrastructure. Understanding caregiver experiences in these settings is essential for creating effective interventions.

A systematic review on the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy for improving mood symptoms in bipolar disorders.

Background: Evidence-based psychotherapies available to treat patients with bipolar disorders (BD) are limited. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may target several common symptoms of BD. We conducted a systematic review on the efficacy of DBT for mood symptoms in patients with BD.

Culturally adapted psychoeducation for bipolar disorder in a low-resource setting: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Background: Bipolar disorder is a source of marked disability, morbidity and premature death. There is a paucity of research on personalised psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder, especially in low-resource settings. A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a culturally adapted psychoeducation intervention for bipolar disorder (CaPE) in Pakistan reported higher patient satisfaction, enhanced medication adherence, knowledge and attitudes regarding bipolar disorder, and improvement in mood symptom scores and health-related quality of life measures compared with treatment as usual (TAU).

Efficacy and acceptability of pharmacotherapy for comorbid anxiety symptoms in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) but there is little guidance on pharmacotherapy for these symptoms. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the available evidence for pharmacotherapy of comorbid anxiety symptoms in BD.

Methods: Completed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of medications for BD published prior to December 2020 were identified through a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.

Relationship between childhood trauma, personality, social support and depression in women attending general medical clinics in a low and middle-income country.

Background: Associations between childhood trauma, personality, and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have been well established in studies conducted in high-income countries. However, there are limited studies on these associations in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where MDD is highly prevalent. We assessed the relationships between childhood trauma, personality, and MDD in women in Karachi, Pakistan.

Stigma toward mental and physical illness: attitudes of healthcare professionals, healthcare students and the general public in Pakistan.

Background: The evidence base for stigma in mental health largely originates from high-income countries.

Aims: This study from Pakistan aimed to address the gap in literature on stigma from low- and middle-income countries.

Method: This cross-sectional study surveyed 1470 adults from Karachi, Pakistan.

Minocycline as adjunctive treatment for treatment-resistant depression: study protocol for a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial (MINDEP2).

Background: Available evidence suggests that adjunctive treatment with immunomodulatory medications may be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). A pilot trial of the tetracycline minocycline as adjunctive treatment in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), produced promising results, however, a larger scale trial is needed to confirm the antidepressant actions of this drug.

Methods: This is a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of minocycline as an add-on to standard antidepressants for adults (age > 18) with DSM-5 major depressive episode, who have failed to respond to at least two adequate trials of antidepressant treatment.

Demographic and psychosocial characteristics of self-harm: The Pakistan perspective.

Self-harm is a major public health issue in Pakistan, yet the characteristics of those who self-harm are under-explored. This is a secondary analysis from a large randomized control trial on the prevention of self-harm, exploring demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics of people who self-harm in Pakistan. A total of 221 participants with a history of self-harm were recruited from medical wards of three major hospitals in Karachi.