Are working memory deficits in bipolar disorder markers for psychosis?
Working memory deficits have been identified in bipolar disorder, but there is evidence suggesting that these deficits may be markers for psychosis rather than affective disorder. The current study examined this issue by comparing two groups of individuals with bipolar disorder, one with psychotic features and one without psychotic features, with a group of normal controls. Working memory was conceptualized as a multicomponent system that includes auditory and visuospatial short-term stores, executive control processes, and an episodic buffer that allows for communication between short- and long-term memory stores (Baddeley & Logie, 1999). Results indicated that only executive control processes significantly differentiated the psychotic and nonpsychotic bipolar groups, although visuospatial working memory differentiated both bipolar groups from controls. The results support the idea that some aspects of working memory performance are markers for psychosis, while others may be more general markers for bipolar disorders.
Department of Psychology.
Daniel N
DN
Allen
Department of Psychology.
Carol
C
Randall
Department of Psychology.
Danielle
D
Bello
Department of Psychology.
Christina
C
Armstrong
Department of Psychology.
Linda
L
Frantom
Department of Psychology.
Chad
C
Cross
Department of Psychology.
Jefferson
J
Kinney
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult