[Neurocognitive functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar type I disorder].

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Psychology

Context:

• Bipolar disorder (BD) affects 1-3% of the population, characterized by alternating affective episodes and periods of euthymia.
• Emerging evidence indicates persistent cognitive deficits in BD patients during euthymia, impacting daily functioning.
• Understanding these deficits is crucial for improving treatment and support for individuals with BD.

Purpose:

• To characterize neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning in Portuguese individuals with bipolar type I disorder.
• To compare cognitive performance and psychosocial functioning between BD type I patients and healthy controls.
• To investigate the relationship between cognitive deficits, mood symptoms, and psychosocial functioning in BD.

Summary:

• Sixty-five BD type I patients and 50 healthy controls underwent extensive neuropsychological testing assessing attention, processing speed, executive functions, and verbal memory.
• Mood symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Young Mania Rating Scale; psychosocial functioning was assessed via the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).
• BD patients exhibited significantly poorer performance in verbal memory and executive functions compared to controls, with moderate to large effect sizes, even after controlling for education and mood symptoms.

Impact:

• BD type I patients demonstrate global cognitive deficits, especially in verbal memory and executive functions, persisting into euthymia.
• These cognitive impairments are significantly correlated with psychosocial functioning difficulties experienced by patients.
• While cognitive deficits impact daily functioning, their direct correlation with working status requires further investigation.