NIMH Rhythms and Blues Study: A Prospective Natural History Study of Motor Activity, Mood States, and Bipolar Disorder

Overview

Background: Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, can have serious effects on a person s life. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have heart disease and abuse substances. In this natural history study, researchers would like to learn more about the connection between exercise and mental health in people with and without mood disorders. Objective: To better understand relationships among physical activity, sleep, and mental health. Eligibility: People aged 8 to 60 years with a history of a mood disorder. Healthy spouses and relatives with no mood disorders are also needed. Design: Participants will be in the study up to 2 years. For up to 20 days in a row, at 4 times during the study, participants will: Complete an electronic diary on their smartphone. Participants will answer questions about their mood, health, sleep, and daily activities. Wear an activity monitor, like a wristwatch, that records how much they move. Wear a light sensor, as a necklace, to record the amount of light in their environment. Some participants will do additional tests. Twice during the study, for 3 days in a row, they will: Wear monitors to record their temperature, heart rate, and sleep. Provide saliva samples. Complete cognitive tasks on their smartphone. Participants will visit the NIH clinic 2 times. They will have a physical exam, with blood and urine tests. They will wear a heart monitor. They will ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes. They may have an imaging scan. Some participants will stay overnight. They will go to sleep wearing a cap to measure their brain activity.

Study Description: The overarching goal of this study is to investigate potential mechanisms underlying the association between motor activity and mood states and disorders. In a previous study using real-time tracking of objectively assessed motor activity and subjectively rated mood states with ecological momentary assessments (EMA), we found a unidirectional association between motor activity and mood that was especially notable among adults with bipolar I (BPI) disorder. The proposed study seeks to replicate these findings, and more extensively characterize the associations between motor activity and mood states by expanding the assessments of individual, physiologic, cognitive, and environmental correlates. This study will employ an intensive longitudinal design with combined ecological and laboratory assessments in the NIH Clinical Center in a sample of 280 probands with a lifetime history of bipolar I (BPI) disorder, bipolar II (BPII) disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), or no lifetime history of a mood disorder. The study will also include up to 700 first-degree relatives (280 siblings and 420 offspring) and 280 spouses of the probands. A subset of the probands and relatives will participate in an outpatient and/or inpatient component. The overarching hypothesis is that increases in motor activity, especially exercise, are associated with improvements in mood states. These findings will have implications for interventions in both the general community and clinical samples of people with mood disorders. Objectives: The study has four specific aims: 1. Examine the associations between motor activity (using high resolution wearable sensors that are time-synchronized with EMA) and mood states in probands with a lifetime history of BPI disorder, BPII disorder, MDD, or no mood disorder (Multidomain Ecological Assessment). 2. Evaluate associations between motor activity and mood states among first-degree relatives and spouses of probands with and without BPI disorder, BPII disorder, MDD, or other mood disorder (Familial Patterns). 3. Quantify the impacts of exercise (a submaximal exercise test) on mood states and related domains by mood-disorder group in a controlled laboratory setting (Exercise). 4. Explore potential correlates of the association between motor activity and mood states (Correlates). Endpoints: Primary Endpoints: 1. Subjective mood and energy ratings assessed 4 times daily with EMA in ecological settings; 2. Scores on standardized questionnaires of mood and mania/hypomania; 3. Clinical rating scales; 4. Within subject and group level averages and variability. Secondary Endpoints: 1. Subjective mood and energy ratings assessed with EMA before and after exercise; 2. Clinical rating scales; 3. Continuous heart rate measurements, blood pressure before and after (immediately, 0.5, 1,3, 12, and 24 hrs.) exercise. Tertiary Endpoints: Potential correlates of the association between motor activity and mood states including individual factors (e.g., age, sex, comorbidity, medical history), physiologic factors (e.g., heart rate, cortisol, light sensitivity), cognitive factors (e.g., performance on cognitive and neuroimaging tasks), and environmental factors (e.g., light, season, temperature).