Role of appetite hormone dysregulation in the cognitive function among patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder

Abstract

Objectives The association of appetite hormones with cognitive function in patients with affective disorders remains unknown. Methods All total, 58 adult patients with bipolar I disorder, 36 with bipolar II disorder, 40 with major depressive disorder were enrolled and age and sex-matched with 40 controls. The levels of appetite hormones leptin, ghrelin, insulin and adiponectin were assessed. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was used to assess executive function. Results A general linear model, adjusted for demographic data and clinical symptoms, demonstrated the ghrelin levels were higher in patients with bipolar I or II disorder than in those with major depressive disorder and controls (p < 0.001). We also identified a positive correlation of ghrelin level and executive function among patients with bipolar I (p = 0.033) and II (p = 0.027) disorders, but not among those with major depressive disorder and controls. Conclusions Patients with bipolar I or II disorder were more likely to have high levels of ghrelin than patients with major depressive disorder and controls, which may have a positive correlation on the cognitive function of patients with bipolar I or II disorder.