Objective: The study aims were to address
neuropsychological functioning
across different states of bipolar illness and
to determine relationships among clinical
features, neuropsychological performance,
and psychosocial functioning.
Method: Several domains of cognitive
function were examined in 30 depressed
bipolar patients (DSM-IV criteria for major
depression, Hamilton Depression Rating
Scale score ≥17), 34 manic or hypomanic
bipolar patients (DSM-IV criteria for manic
or hypomanic episode, Young Mania Rating
Scale score ≥12), and 44 euthymic bipolar
patients (6 months of remission,
Hamilton depression scale score ≤8, and
Young Mania Rating Scale score ≤6). The
comparison group consisted of 30 healthy
subjects without history of neurological or
psychiatric disorders. A neuropsychological
battery assessed executive function, attention,
and verbal and visual memory.
Results: The three groups showed cognitive
dysfunction in verbal memory and frontal executive tasks in relation to the
comparison group. Low neuropsychological
performance was associated with poor
functional outcome. Impairment of verbal
memory was related to the duration of illness
and the numbers of previous manic
episodes, hospitalizations, and suicide
attempts.