Cognitive functioning in elderly patients with early onset bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
Very little is known about the long term cognitive sequelae of bipolar disorder.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate neuropsychological functioning in older euthymic persons with early onset bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Fifteen older patients (age >60) with an early onset (<50 years) bipolar-I disorder in a euthymic mood were tested using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. Neuropsychological functioning was compared with that of a sex, age and education-matched group of 15 comparison subjects without mood disorders or memory complaints.


RESULTS
Bipolar subjects scored lower than comparison subjects on selective attention, verbal memory, verbal fluency and mental effort tests.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that euthymic bipolar patients are impaired across a range of cognitive domains. This could represent a trait-like cognitive disability related to the disease, as the impairments are comparable with those found in younger bipolar patients.
Schouws
S N T M
SN
GGZ Buitenamstel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. sigfries@ggzba.nl
Zoeteman
J B
JB
Comijs
H C
HC
Stek
M L
ML
Beekman
A T F
AT
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D014705:Verbal Behavior