A study of verbal memory in a sample of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have confirmed the presence of cognitive impairment in euthymic patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD). A significant relationship between memory difficulties and poor psychosocial adjustment has also been found in these subjects. While some studies suggest that these memory deficits may be secondary to executive functioning instead of being directly related to a primary impairment of the memory systems, others suggest that these memory deficits may be secondary to clinical symptoms. Some authors reject the existence of any relationship between clinical state and neurocognitive impairments and suggest that this relationship may be mediated by other factors. The goal of this research was to replicate the findings of verbal memory impairment in euthymic patients with Bipolar Disorder and relate these impairments with neocortex structures. METHODOLOGY: We carried out a cross-sectional study. The sample was made up of 44 BDI and 9 BDII euthymic patients and 32 healthy subjects, aged 18-65 years. Both groups were evaluated with the California Verbal Learning Test. RESULTS: Both bipolar patients performed worse than healthy control subjects in most memory measures and showed difficulties in components of memory that are associated with both frontal (semantic organization) and temporal lobe function (recall and recognition). CONCLUSIONS: We have hypothesized that verbal memory could be a trait marker of bipolar disorder.

Estudio de memoria verbal en una muestra de pacientes con Trastorno Bipolar en fase eutímica / A study of verbal memory in a sample of euthymic patients with Bipolar Disorder

Introducción: Estudios recientes han demostrado la persistencia de disfunciones cognitivas en fases de remisión del trastorno bipolar (TB). Se ha encontrado una relación significativa entre los déficit de memoria y un pobre ajuste psicosocial. Mientras que algunos estudios apuntan a un déficit mnésico secundario a déficit de tipo ejecutivo, má sque a una alteración primaria de los procesos de memoria, otros estudios sugieren que los déficit mnésicos podrían ser secundarios a la sintomatología clínica. Otros autores, no encuentran relación entre el estado clínico y los déficit neurocognitivos y sugieren que esta relación debe estar mediada por otros factores. El objetivo de este trabajo fue replicarlos hallazgos de déficit en memoria verbal en pacientes con trastorno bipolar en fase eutímica y relacionar dichos déficit con estructuras del neocórtex. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 44 pacientes eutímicos con TBI, 9 con TBII en fase de eutimia y 32 sujetos sanos, con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 65 años. Se utilizócomo instrumento de evaluación de la memoria el California Verbal Learning Test. Resultados: Se observaron déficit en los dos subtipos de sujetos con TB, tanto en los componentes de memoria asociados con estructuras frontales (organización semántica)como en los relacionados con estructuras temporales(recuerdo y reconocimiento).Conclusiones La memoria verbal podrían ser una variable rasgo del TB (AU)

Background. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of cognitive impairment in euthymic patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD). A significant relationship between memory difficulties and poor psychosocial adjustment has also been found in these subjects. While some studies suggest that these memory deficits may be secondary to executive functioning instead of being directly related to a primary impairment of the memory systems, others suggest that these memory deficits may be secondary to clinical symptoms. Some authors reject the existence of any relationship between clinical state and neurocognitive impairments and suggest that this relationship may be mediated by other factors. The goal of this research was to replicate the findings of verbal memory impairment in euthymic patients with Bipolar Disorder and relate these impairments with neocortex structures. Methodology. We carried out a cross-sectional study. The sample was made up of 44 BDI and 9 BDII euthymic patients and 32 healthy subjects, aged 18-65 years. Both groups were evaluated with the California Verbal Learning Test. Results. Both bipolar patients performed worse than healthy control subjects in most memory measures andshowed difficulties in components of memory that are associated with both frontal (semantic organization) and temporal lobe function (recall and recognition) (AU)