BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the predictive value of cognitive impairments and time spent ill in long-term functional outcome of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Thirty five patients with euthymic BD completed a neurocognitive battery to assess verbal memory, attention, and executive functions at study entry. The course of illness was documented prospectively for a period longer than 12 months using a modified life charting technique based on the NIMH life-charting method. Psychosocial functioning was assessed with the General Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) at the end of follow-up period when patients were euthymic. RESULTS: Impairments in verbal memory and in attention, as well as subsyndromal depressive symptomatology were independent predictors of GAF score at the end of the study explaining 43% of variance. Similarly, impairments in attention and executive functioning were independent predictors of FAST score explaining 28% of variance. LIMITATIONS: We did not control factors that could affect functional outcome such as psychosocial interventions, familiar support and housing and financial resources. CONCLUSIONS: Both cognitive impairments and time spent with subsyndromal depressive symptomatology may be illness features associated with poorer long-term functional outcome. Developing strategies to treat these illness features might contribute to enhance long-term functional outcome among patients with BD.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the predictive value of cognitive impairments and time spent ill in long-term functional outcome of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Thirty five patients with euthymic BD completed a neurocognitive battery to assess verbal memory, attention, and executive functions at study entry. The course of illness was documented prospectively for a period longer than 12 months using a modified life charting technique based on the NIMH life-charting method. Psychosocial functioning was assessed with the General Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) at the end of follow-up period when patients were euthymic. RESULTS: Impairments in verbal memory and in attention, as well as subsyndromal depressive symptomatology were independent predictors of GAF score at the end of the study explaining 43% of variance. Similarly, impairments in attention and executive functioning were independent predictors of FAST score explaining 28% of variance. LIMITATIONS: We did not control factors that could affect functional outcome such as psychosocial interventions, familiar support and housing and financial resources. CONCLUSIONS: Both cognitive impairments and time spent with subsyndromal depressive symptomatology may be illness features associated with poorer long-term functional outcome. Developing strategies to treat these illness features might contribute to enhance long-term functional outcome among patients with BD.
Authors: Amy T Peters; Andrew D Peckham; Jonathan P Stange; Louisa G Sylvia; Natasha S Hansen; Stephanie Salcedo; Scott L Rauch; Andrew A Nierenberg; Darin D Dougherty; Thilo Deckersbach Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2014-03-02 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Ariel G Gildengers; Benoit H Mulsant; Rayan K Al Jurdi; John L Beyer; Rebecca L Greenberg; Laszlo Gyulai; Paul J Moberg; Martha Sajatovic; Thomas ten Have; Robert C Young Journal: Bipolar Disord Date: 2010-12 Impact factor: 6.744
Authors: J Volkert; M A Schiele; Julia Kazmaier; Friederike Glaser; K C Zierhut; J Kopf; S Kittel-Schneider; A Reif Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2015-11-26 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: C M Bonnín; C Torrent; J M Goikolea; M Reinares; B Solé; M Valentí; J Sánchez-Moreno; D Hidalgo; R Tabarés-Seisdedos; A Martínez-Arán; E Vieta Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2013-08-03 Impact factor: 5.270