Cognitive Functions in Bipolar Manic, Depressed and Remission Episodes

Abstract

Objective: In recent research, it has been suggested that cognitive functions seem to be impaired not only during the acute phases of bipolar disorder, but also during remission. In this study, we aimed to investigate cognitive functions in the manic, depressed and remission periods of bipolar disorder by comparing with a healthy control group. Methods: Cognitive functions including attention and memory were examined in 20 manic, 10 depressed and 21 euthymic bipolar I patients (3 months of remission, Hamilton depression scale score?8, and Young Mania Rating Scale score?6) as compared with 22 healthy subjects. All subjects were male, and their ages were between 20-45 years. Cognitive evaluation was carried out by the Serial Digit Learning Test, Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Cancellation Test and Stroop Test. Results: We found that attention, memory and learning functions were worse in the manic and depressive patients than healthy controls or patients in remission and that the number of depressive episodes had a negative effect on attention functions. No difference was found between patients in remission and healthy controls. Some attention subtests scores were negatively related to the memory test and its subtest scores in manic and depressed patients. Conclusion: This study has shown that impairments in attention, memory, information processing and learning functions of bipolar patients were specific to the depressive and manic periods of the disorder and no effect was present in the remission period.