title: Computerized testing of neurocognitive function in euthymic bipolar patients compared to those with mild cognitive impairment and cognitively healthy controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While neuropsychological impairment in bipolar disorder is well documented, the effect size of this impairment is rarely compared directly to that in other clinically familiar cognitive disorders. This study compares neuropsychological functioning of euthymic bipolar patients to those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following evaluation during regular follow-up in a mood disorders clinic, 58 euthymic adult bipolar subjects were administered a validated and fully computerized cognitive assessment (Mindstreams; NeuroTrax Corp., N.Y., USA). Study data were compared to existing data for MCI and cognitively healthy individuals tested with the same assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Final analyses were based on 51 bipolar patients, 162 MCI patients and 495 healthy comparison subjects. Significant (p < 0.001) group effects were found for every parameter. Post hoc analysis revealed that the bipolar and MCI groups showed statistically equivalent functioning in memory, executive function, verbal function, and information processing speed. In the domains of visual-spatial processing, attention, and motor skills, the MCI group outperformed the bipolar group. In every domain, the healthy control group outperformed both the bipolar and the MCI groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cognitive function of euthymic bipolar patients and those diagnosed with MCI was found to be similar in most but not all domains. Both groups performed significantly less well than the comparison group of healthy subjects. It may be helpful for clinicians to conceptualize the overall level of cognitive impairment in bipolar patients as similar to that in MCI.
authors.affiliation: Beer Sheva Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. yamy@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobron
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Belmaker
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bersudsky
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwolatzky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D055815:Young Adult