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The association between sleep and cognitive abnormalities in bipolar disorder
A J Bradley1,2, K N Anderson3, P Gallagher1
1Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Wolfson Research Centre, Campus for Aging and Vitality, Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5LP, UK.
Psychological Medicine
|January 17, 2019
Summary
Cognitive impairments in bipolar disorder (BD) are primarily driven by sleep disturbances, not just the disorder itself. Abnormal sleep patterns significantly worsen attention and processing speed in BD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is linked to cognitive deficits, particularly in attention and processing.
- Sleep disruption in healthy individuals also causes similar cognitive abnormalities.
- This study investigated if sleep abnormalities exacerbate cognitive dysfunction in BD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relationship between objectively measured sleep abnormalities and cognitive function in bipolar disorder.
- To identify whether cognitive impairments in BD are primarily caused by the disorder or by associated sleep disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Assessed sleep/circadian rhythms over 21 days in 46 BD patients and 42 controls.
- Administered mood questionnaires and cognitive tests (PVT, ANT, DSST).
- Compared cognitive performance between BD patients with normal and abnormal sleep patterns against controls.
Main Results:
- BD patients exhibited slower response times and more lapses on the PVT compared to controls.
- Cognitive deficits were significant in BD patients with abnormal sleep but not in those with normal sleep.
- Similar patterns were observed in ANT and DSST, with impairments linked to abnormal sleep phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Confirms attention and processing speed deficits in bipolar disorder.
- Sleep abnormalities, not BD itself, appear to be the primary driver of cognitive dysfunction.
- Findings highlight the critical role of sleep regulation in maintaining cognitive function in BD.
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