[Bipolar disorders and somatic comorbidities: a focus on metabollic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease]

Abstract

Bipolar Disorders (BD) are currently regarded as a multidimensional disease involving both psychological and physical determinants. If mood dimension and thymic instability have usually been considered as the « core » aspect of bipolar disorders, it's crucial to note that somatic problems frequently occur in BD, deeply worsening the prognosis of this affection. Indeed, comorbid somatic illnesses of bipolar disorder are mainly represented by cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, which are shortening life expectancy by 25 to 30 years as compared to the general population. In this review, the authors examine epidemiological data about this comorbidity, then they attempt to provide etiologic and physiopathologic hypotheses about the links between bipolar disorders and metabolic diseases. Despite the absence of strong scientific explanation for this link, its existence highlights the need for more integrated care and interdisciplinary collaboration in order to improve patients'outcome.