title: Functional outcome in bipolar disorder: the role of clinical and cognitive factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the clinical, neuropsychological and pharmacological factors involved in the functional outcome of bipolar disorder despite the gap between clinical and functional recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 77 euthymic bipolar patients were included in the study. Using an a priori definition of low versus good functional outcome, based on the psychosocial items of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF, DSM-IV), and taking also into account their occupational adaptation, the patients were divided into two groups: good or low occupational functioning. Patients with high (n = 46) and low (n = 31) functioning were compared on several clinical, neuropsychological and pharmacological variables and the two patient groups were contrasted with healthy controls (n = 35) on cognitive performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High- and low-functioning groups did not differ with respect to clinical variables. However, bipolar patients in general showed poorer cognitive performance than healthy controls. This was most evident in low-functioning patients and in particular on verbal memory and executive function measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-functioning patients were cognitively more impaired than highly functioning patients on verbal recall and executive functions. The variable that best predicted psychosocial functioning in bipolar patients was verbal memory.
authors: Institute of Neurosciences, University Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Martinez-Aran
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Vieta
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Torrent
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sanchez-Moreno
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Goikolea
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Salamero
authors: G S
authors: GS
authors: Malhi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gonzalez-Pinto
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Daban
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Alvarez-Grandi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Fountoulakis
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kaprinis
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Tabares-Seisdedos
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Ayuso-Mateos
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011584:Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents