Neuro-cognition in patients of bipolar affective disorder (currently in remission) and their first degree healthy relatives

Abstract

Background: Bipolar patients do complain of persistent difficulties in concentration, memory, inability to perform optimally in challenging tasks or even, in day-to-day functioning, whereas variety of factors may be responsible for persistent functional impairments, at least a subgroup of patients are likely to experience poor psychosocial outcomes as a result of cognitive dysfunction. Objective: To assess the neurocognitive functions in patients of bipolar affective disorder currently in remission phase and their first-degree relatives. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on a total of 60 subjects. Of which, 30 subjects belonged to patient group, who were patients of BPAD (currently in remission phase) attending outpatient department and remaining 30 were their first-degree healthy relatives who were included in healthy relative groups. Result: Mean age in both groups which was almost same, range between 42 and 45 years. Mean Hindi mini mental state examination (HMSE) test score obtained in patient group was 26.93 (SD = 2.066), in the healthy relative group 28.76 (SD = 1.278), and that in the control group was 29.133 (0.973). The performance of patient group and healthy relative group on the test of cognitive functions such as attention/psychomotor speed processing (Trail Making Test A), there was statistically significant difference in the TMT-A with patient. The performance of patient group and healthy relative group on the test of auditory verbal measure of simple span of attention (Digit Span Forward Test), there was statistically significant difference in the digit span forward test with patient group. The comparison of mean (2.60 ± 0.621 and 3.57 ± 0.568) between patients and healthy relative group was statistically significant (p = 0.00) in test of working memory (Digit span backward test). The comparison of mean (16.167 ± 1.839 and 19.00 ± 1.619) between patients and healthy relative group was statistically significant (p = 0.00) in test of immediate verbal memory and learning (VL and MT). Conclusion: Patients of BPAD currently in remission phase performed poorly on measure of all domains of neurocognition such as executive functions, working memory, verbal memory, visuospatial memory than healthy relatives.