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Neuropsychological performance in pediatric bipolar disorder
Daniel P Dickstein1, Julia E Treland, Joseph Snow
1National Institute of Mental Health Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1255, USA.
Biological Psychiatry
|January 7, 2004
Summary
Children with bipolar disorder show cognitive deficits similar to adults, specifically in attention and visuospatial memory. This research highlights potential ventrolateral prefrontal cortex alterations in pediatric bipolar disorder.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Child Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Growing recognition of childhood bipolar disorder (BD) necessitates research into its unique developmental trajectory.
- Understanding cognitive differences between pediatric and adult-onset BD is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if neuropsychological function in children with BD mirrors that of adults with the disorder.
- To expand the understanding of cognitive impairments in pediatric bipolar disorder.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to 21 children and adolescents with BD.
- Compared performance of the pediatric BD group with 21 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Children with BD exhibited significant impairments in attentional set-shifting and visuospatial memory compared to controls.
- No significant associations were found between cognitive performance and manic symptoms or ADHD comorbidity in the pediatric BD group.
Conclusions:
- Neurocognitive deficits observed in pediatric BD align with those seen in adult BD, suggesting a consistent pattern of impairment.
- Selective deficits in attentional set-shifting and visuospatial memory were identified in pediatric BD.
- Findings suggest potential alterations in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex function in pediatric bipolar disorder.