Domain-specific cognitive function in euthymic bipolar disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by cognitive impairments affecting general and specific domains.
• These cognitive deficits are associated with poorer occupational and social functioning in individuals with BD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze cognitive functioning in euthymic bipolar disorder (BD).
• To identify specific cognitive domains affected in euthymic BD and explore potential influencing factors.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Embase, Medline, and PsycInfo databases up to June 2024.
• Meta-analysis and meta-regressions were employed to analyze cognitive data, including premorbid IQ, demographic, and clinical variables.
• Study quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias were assessed using established statistical methods and procedures.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 75 studies with 4,404 individuals with BD and 4,037 healthy controls (HC).
• Significant cognitive impairments were observed in BD across general functioning, verbal memory, executive function, visuo-spatial memory, attention/processing speed, and working memory.
• While demographic and clinical factors showed limited association, higher education correlated with less verbal memory impairment.

Conclusions:

• Euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with widespread cognitive deficits, highlighting key areas for intervention development.
• Unexplained variance in cognitive performance necessitates further research with larger datasets and individual-level data analysis.