title: Assessment of executive functions in a Brazilian sample of bipolar subjects.
abstract: Research has demonstrated impairments in executive functions in Bipolar Mood Disorder patients. Evidence shows that this impairment is present in both periods of active symptoms of the disorder, as well as euthymic stages, and is compounded by mood episodes, especially manic phases. The purpose of this study was to compare the executive performance of a sample of Brazilian bipolar patients in depressive episodes, (44 participants), euthymia (37 participants), and in controls (43 participants). The main instrument for evaluation was the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Significant differences were found in performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test between Bipolar subjects (Type I) (both in depression and euthymia) and the controls. No significant correlations were found between the number of manic episodes and the performance on execute measurement variables. The findings suggest that the executive dysfunctions in Bipolar Disorder may be related to both transitory and permanent deficits.
authors: Institute of Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 room 120, Bairro Rio Branco, 90035-003 - Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. silvana.oliveira@live.com
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Oliveira
authors: Flávio
authors: F
authors: Kapczinski
authors: Suzi
authors: S
authors: Camey
authors: Clarissa
authors: C
authors: Trentini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values