NIMH Rhythms and Blues Study: A Prospective Natural History Study of Biorhythms and Reactivity

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).