A 12-week open-label pilot study of donepezil for cognitive functioning and instrumental activities of daily living in late-life bipolar disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether donepezil is effective in enhancing cognitive functioning and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in older adults with bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Twelve elderly patients with bipolar I or II disorder, with evidence of mild cognitive decrements, were administered donepezil 5-10 mg daily for 3 months. Participants had cognitive and functional evaluation pre-, on-, and 3-months post donepezil administration.


RESULTS
Three subjects dropped out of the study. In the remaining nine subjects, no significant effects were observed in cognitive and functional measures. Seven of the nine participants asked to resume the medication after completion of the study because of the perceived beneficial effects.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small pilot study of older adults with bipolar disorder, acute treatment with donepezil was not associated with improvements in cognitive and IADL functioning. Given limitations of the study design, placebo effects could not be ruled out in the subjects who asked to resume donepezil.
Gildengers
Ariel G
AG
The Advanced Center for Intervention and Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. gildengersag@upmc.edu
Butters
Meryl A
MA
Chisholm
Denise
D
Reynolds
Charles F
CF
Mulsant
Benoit H
BH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000077265:Donepezil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil