Abstract
BackgroundCognitive processing in Bipolar Disorder is characterized by a number of attentional abnormalities. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy combines mindfulness meditation, a form of attentional training, along with aspects of cognitive therapy, and may improve attentional dysfunction in bipolar disorder patients.Methods12 euthymic BD patients and 9 control participants underwent record of electroencephalography (EEG, band frequency analysis) during resting states (eyes open, eyes closed) and during the completion of a continuous performance task (A-X version, EEG event-related potential (ERP) wave component analysis). The individuals with BD completed an 8-week MBCT intervention and record of EEG was repeated.Results(1) Brain activity, individuals with BD showed significantly decreased theta band power, increased beta band power, and decreased theta/beta ratios during the resting state, eyes closed, for frontal and cingulate cortices. Post MBCT intervention improvement over the right frontal cortex was seen in the individuals with BD, as beta band power decreased. (2) Brain activation, individuals with BD showed a significant P300-like wave form over the frontal cortex during the cue. Post MBCT intervention the P300-like waveform was significantly attenuated over the frontal cortex.ConclusionsIndividuals with BD show decreased attentional readiness and activation of non-relevant information processing during attentional processes. These data are the first that show, MBCT in BD improved attentional readiness, and attenuated activation of non-relevant information processing during attentional processes.
Highlights
Cognitive processing in Bipolar Disorder is characterized by a number of attentional abnormalities
Attentional dysfunction in bipolar disorder (BD) is suggested to result from interfering neural processing that is not related to the task at hand, this superfluous or interfering information processing has been suggested to result from over activity of emotional brain areas [2] and ‘weak’ regulation of approach systems [13]
No significant difference was seen over the parietal cortex (Table 1). These differences in theta and beta band power over the frontal and cingulate cortex can be expressed as differences in the theta/beta ratios during the resting condition with eyes closed over the frontal (F3 t = 2.68; F4 t = 3.42, p < 0.05) and cingulate cortex (C3 t = 2.29; C4 t = 2.64, p < 0.05) (Table 1)
Summary
Cognitive processing in Bipolar Disorder is characterized by a number of attentional abnormalities. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy combines mindfulness meditation, a form of attentional training, along with aspects of cognitive therapy, and may improve attentional dysfunction in bipolar disorder patients. Attentional dysfunction in BD is suggested to result from interfering neural processing that is not related to the task at hand, this superfluous or interfering information processing has been suggested to result from over activity of emotional brain areas [2] and ‘weak’ regulation of approach systems [13]. To overcome the over activity of emotional brain areas individuals with BD show increased activity of attention related brain areas [2]. This suggests that if we are able to reduce interfering neural processing and/or improve regulation of approach systems we would improve attentional processing in BD. While some research in major depression has focused on EEG variables relevant to mindfulness [19,20,21], limited research has been conducted in BD with these forms of therapy, and no EEG studies have been conducted to our knowledge [18,22]
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