Alejandro G Szmulewicz1, Marina P Valerio2, Julieta Lomastro3, José M Smith4, Virginia Chiappe3, Diego J Martino5, Ana Igoa6. 1. Bipolar Disorder Program, Institute of Neurosciences, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Pharmacology Department, University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: alejandroszm@gmail.com. 2. National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Argentina; Psychiatric Emergencies Hospital Torcuato de Alvear, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3. Psychiatric Emergencies Hospital Torcuato de Alvear, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 4. Psychiatric Department, Medical Education and Clinical Research Center Norberto Quirno, CEMIC, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 5. Bipolar Disorder Program, Institute of Neurosciences, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Argentina; Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 6. Bipolar Disorder Program, Institute of Neurosciences, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Psychiatric Emergencies Hospital Torcuato de Alvear, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess if an association between neurocognitive deficits and psychosocial functioning exists in first-episode BD patients. METHODS: Twenty-five euthymic first-episode BD patients and thirty-seven healthy controls were recruited. History of suicide attempts, psychiatric comorbidities, pharmacological exposure, and previous depressive episodes were investigated. Performances on neurocognitive domains (verbal memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functions) as well as a measure of psychosocial functioning were used as outcomes. RESULTS: First-episode BD patients showed medium-to-large size deficits on measures of attention, processing speed, and executive functions. A significant association between verbal memory and psychosocial functioning at the moment of BD diagnosis was detected (beta coefficient -3.9, IC 95% -6.7 to -1.2, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between cognitive performance at the moment of BD diagnosis and psychosocial functioning was detected. Possible therapeutic implications of this finding are discussed.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess if an association between neurocognitive deficits and psychosocial functioning exists in first-episode BD patients. METHODS: Twenty-five euthymic first-episode BD patients and thirty-seven healthy controls were recruited. History of suicide attempts, psychiatric comorbidities, pharmacological exposure, and previous depressive episodes were investigated. Performances on neurocognitive domains (verbal memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functions) as well as a measure of psychosocial functioning were used as outcomes. RESULTS: First-episode BD patients showed medium-to-large size deficits on measures of attention, processing speed, and executive functions. A significant association between verbal memory and psychosocial functioning at the moment of BD diagnosis was detected (beta coefficient -3.9, IC 95% -6.7 to -1.2, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between cognitive performance at the moment of BD diagnosis and psychosocial functioning was detected. Possible therapeutic implications of this finding are discussed.
Authors: Giselli Scaini; Tatiana Barichello; Gabriel R Fries; Elizabeth A Kennon; Taylor Andrews; Bobby R Nix; Giovana Zunta-Soares; Samira S Valvassori; Jair C Soares; João Quevedo Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2018-12-11 Impact factor: 7.853