Neurocognitive performance and functioning of an adolescent bipolar disorder cohort: outcome two years after diagnostic

Abstract

Deficits in verbal memory, attention and executive functions persist within euthymic phases in bipolar adults, adolescents, and children. Outcome data of medicated pediatric bipolar patients showed improvements comparing unstable baseline status with stabilized follow-up, but deficits remained between patients and healthy controls in executive functions, verbal memory and visual-spatial tasks. The main aim of this study was to compare the performance of 20 young stabilized type I or II bipolar patients, diagnosed and medicated for at least two years, and 20 healthy controls matched in age and gender. Evaluation included clinical symptomatology (YMRS, BDI, ADHD-RS), functioning (studies level, labor situation, substance use) and neuropsychological battery (intellectual estimation, attention, working memory, verbal learning, visual memory, visual-spatial skills and speed, phonemic fluency and executive functioning). Chi-square test was used to compare categorical measures and t-test for numeric measures. No significative differences emerged in current level of studies, labor status, substance use nor manic symptoms. Significative differences appeared in depressive and ADHD symptoms and some neuropsychological functions, as intellectual quotient and visual memory, worse in EOBD than HC. Trends but not significative deficits were shown in visual-spatial skills, verbal learning, working memory and set-shifting. Longitudinal studies are needed.