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Annals of General Psychiatry
Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Primary research

Outcome of cognitive performances in bipolar euthymic patients after a depressive episode: a longitudinal naturalistic study

Authors: Ramona Păunescu, Ioana Micluţia

Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Cognitive functions have been investigated across depressed, manic, hypomanic, mixed and euthymic episodes of bipolar disorder, but the stability or the progression of cognitive impairment is still under research.

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to assess the outcome of cognitive functions in bipolar patients following a depressive episode, after a 6-month period in the absence of mood symptoms.

Method

63 bipolar patients were tested with a battery of neurocognitive tests both at baseline (during an acute depressive episode) and after 6 months of euthymia. The cognitive domains assessed included memory, attention, verbal fluency, processing speed and executive functions. Cognitive performances were compared with those of a control group (40 healthy control subjects), both in depression and in euthymia.

Results

Patients scored worse than control subjects in several cognitive domains, both in depression and euthymia. The most impaired cognitive functions were executive functions and verbal memory. Between the two moments of assessment bipolar patients obtained a significant improvement in memory, verbal fluency, attention and information processing speed. Psychomotor speed showed no difference between depression and euthymia.

Conclusions

Bipolar patients showed impairment in several cognitive domains during depression. A certain degree of impairment remained even after the remission of the affective episode in relationship with the executive functions. Between depression and euthymia, bipolar patients showed important cognitive improvements.
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Metadata
Title
Outcome of cognitive performances in bipolar euthymic patients after a depressive episode: a longitudinal naturalistic study
Authors
Ramona Păunescu
Ioana Micluţia
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Annals of General Psychiatry / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1744-859X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-015-0070-2

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