Subthreshold bipolar disorder: lives are about to change

The lives of millions of bipolar sufferers are about to change forever as breakthrough treatment for type 2 and subthreshold bipolar disorder was announced.

The discovery unveiled findings from 20 jaw-dropping cases treated at The London Psychiatry Centre, England, where patients had taken part in the new life-changing treatment of bipolar disorders, specifically type 2 and subthreshold bipolar disorder, in patients who have four or more mood changes in a year. These conditions worsen with the use of antidepressants.

The concept of precision medicine

The new breakthrough applies a concept known as ‘precision medicine’ to effectively predict and target the treatment of patients based on their genetic profile. The process uses a combination of rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and high dose of thyroid hormone, alongside targeted genetic testing for thyroid activating enzymes which ensures the patient suffers minimal side effects.

Precision medicine is essentially when genetic testing is used to guide treatment, and this is the first time the technique has been successfully administered in mental health and specifically in type 2 and subthreshold bipolar disorder.

The use of precision medicine, whilst following UK prescribing guidelines for treating rapid cycling bipolar disorder, has led to a ground-breaking discovery, which could indicate a worldwide change in how millions of bipolar disorder sufferers are medically treated in the future.

Tackling type 2 and subthreshold bipolar disorder

With the age ranges of patients being between 15 and 80 years old, patients who had the combination of rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and high dose thyroid combination saw their condition recover fully after years of unsuccessful treatment with drugs. This effective new process also displays generally a lack of or minimal side effects, which was promising news for patients receiving the treatment.

Dr Andy Zamar of The London Psychiatry Centre explains: “This game-changing discovery is the result of more than a decade of work involving the treatment of nearly 400 people with genetic tests carried out in over 100 of these patients.

“We hope our findings result in a global transformation of how millions of people are treated for this debilitating illness and signals a reduction in their required medication and side effects.”