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Working memory and inhibitory control among manic and euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2005

ERIC R. LARSON ,
PAULA K. SHEAR ,
ROBERT KRIKORIAN ,
JEFFREY WELGE  and
STEPHEN M. STRAKOWSKI
ERIC R. LARSON
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
PAULA K. SHEAR
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
ROBERT KRIKORIAN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
JEFFREY WELGE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
STEPHEN M. STRAKOWSKI
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a severe psychiatric illness that is characterized by episodes of extreme mood states. The affective components of bipolar disorder have been studied extensively, but only recently have investigators begun to systematically examine its cognitive concomitants. Although executive dysfunction has been reported in this population, especially while patients are manic, the tasks administered in many previous studies have made it difficult to determine the specific executive abilities that were compromised. The present study examined 15 patients with bipolar disorder who were manic, 18 who were euthymic, and 18 healthy participants. Tests were selected to evaluate two specific aspects of executive functioning in these participants. The Object Alternation Task was given as a measure of inhibitory control, and the Delayed Response Task was included as a measure of spatial delayed working memory. All groups performed similarly on the Delayed Response Task. On the Object Alternation Task, however, the manic and euthymic patients committed significantly more perseverative errors than healthy participants. These results indicated that patients in the present sample had relatively normal working memory abilities, but had a deficit in behavioral self-regulation, which was evident across mood states. (JINS, 2005, 11, 163–172.)Location of work: Center for Bipolar Disorders Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Keywords

Bipolar disorderCognitiveExecutive functioning
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 163 - 172
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

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