Case–control study of neurocognitive function in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder: An association with mania

• Published in: British journal of psychiatry Vol. 180; no. 4; pp. 320 - 326
• Main Authors: Cavanagh, J. T. O., Van Beck, M., Muir, W, Blackwood, D. H. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.04.2002; RCP
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Affective disorders; Aged; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - complications; Bipolar Disorder - physiopathology; Case-Control Studies; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - complications; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Cognitive ability; Drugs; Early intervention; Executive function; Female; Humans; Intelligence tests; Intervention; Learning; Learning Disorders - complications; Learning Disorders - physiopathology; Male; Mania; Memory; Memory Disorders - complications; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Neurocognition; Neuropsychological assessment; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Patients; Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology; Premorbid; Psychiatry; Recall; Relapse; Statistics, Nonparametric; Verbal learning; Verbal memory; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 0007-1250; 1472-1465
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.180.4.320

Neurocognitive impairments in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder may represent trait rather than state variables. To test the hypothesis that euthymic patients with bipolar disorder would exhibit impairment in verbal learning and memory and executive function compared with healthy controls matched for age, gender and premorbid IQ. Twenty euthymic patients with bipolar disorder were matched, on a case-by-case basis, to twenty healthy community controls. Cases and controls were tested with a battery of neuropsychological tests. Impairments were found in cases compared with controls in tests of verbal learning and memory. Verbal learning and memory correlated negatively with the number of manic episodes. Impaired verbal learning and memory may be a trait variable in bipolar disease. There are implications for adherence to medication and relapse and for the role of early treatment interventions. Prospective designs and targeting first-episode groups may help to differentiate trait v. disease process effects.