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The relationship between "Eyes Reading" ability and verbal memory in bipolar disorder
N Dalkner1, S A Bengesser1, A Birner1
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, 8036 Graz, Austria.
Psychiatry Research
|January 15, 2019
Summary
Theory of Mind (ToM) performance was not impaired in euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) patients. However, impaired verbal memory was linked to poorer ToM abilities, especially in males with BD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Neurocognitive impairments are common in psychiatric disorders, impacting patient outcomes.
- Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits have been inconsistently reported in bipolar disorder (BD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Theory of Mind (ToM) performance in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder (BD).
- To examine the relationship between ToM and neurocognitive function in BD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 116 euthymic BD patients and 79 healthy controls were assessed.
- Participants completed a comprehensive neurocognitive test battery and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) for affective ToM.
Main Results:
- Overall affective ToM performance (RMET) did not differ between BD patients and controls.
- A significant association was found between RMET scores and verbal memory, particularly in male BD patients.
- BD patients with memory deficits exhibited worse RMET performance than controls and BD patients without memory deficits.
Conclusions:
- Affective ToM is generally preserved in euthymic BD patients.
- Verbal memory deficits are associated with impaired affective ToM in BD, especially in males.
- Further research is needed to establish causality due to the cross-sectional design.