Is psychopharmacologic treatment associated with neuropsychological deficits in bipolar youth?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of psychopharmacologic treatments on neuropsychological functioning in bipolar youth.


METHODS
Participants were 173 children (aged 6-17 years) with DSM-IV bipolar disorder. Participants were comprehensively assessed using structured diagnostic interviews (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children) and neuropsychological measures (eg, subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III) during the years 2001-2006. Comparisons were made in neuropsychological functioning between medicated and unmedicated youth with bipolar disorder.


RESULTS
Children who were treated with mood stabilizers performed significantly (P < .05) more poorly than untreated children on measures of processing speed and working memory. Treatment with other classes of medication, including second-generation antipsychotics, was not significantly associated with neuropsychological impairments.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with mood stabilizers may be associated with specific neuropsychological impairments. Cognitive side effects may need to be considered in selecting particular psychopharmacologic treatments for children with bipolar disorder.
Henin
Aude
A
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Suite 2000, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. ahenin@partners.org
Mick
Eric
E
Biederman
Joseph
J
Fried
Ronna
R
Hirshfeld-Becker
Dina R
DR
Micco
Jamie A
JA
Miller
Katherine G
KG
Rycyna
Caroline C
CC
Wozniak
Janet
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018020:Lithium Compounds