Longitudinal relationship between clinical course and neurocognitive impairments in bipolar disorder.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between clinical course and trajectory of neurocognitive functioning during a follow-up period in a sample of euthymic bipolar patients.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with BD performed two-neurocognitive assessment separated by a period of at least 48 months. The clinical course during the follow-up period was documented by: three measures 1) number of affective episodes, 2) time spent ill, and 3) mood instability.

Functional Outcome in the Middle Course of Bipolar Disorder: A Longitudinal Study.

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term functional outcome of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). At baseline and after a follow-up period of at least 48 months, three measures of functioning were administered: psychosocial functioning (GAF), employment status (full-time, part-time, and unemployment/disability), and a self-reported measure of functional recovery. At baseline, patients with more than five previous affective episodes exhibited poorer outcomes on all measures of functioning than patients with less than five previous episodes.

Accuracy of the number of previous episodes reported by patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: The number of previous episodes in patients with BD is a variable widely used for both clinical and research purposes. The aim of this study was to compare the number of episodes retrospectively reported by euthymic BD subjects with that registered by their psychiatrists during a follow-up period.

Methods: Fifty euthymic patients with BD and more than 2years of follow-up were retrospectively asked in a standardized fashion about the number of hypomanic/manic and depressive episodes suffered during that period.

Sexual risk behaviors among women with bipolar disorder.

The aim of this study was to investigate sexual health and sexual risk behaviors for sexually transmitted infections (STI) among women with bipolar disorder (BDW). Sixty-three euthymic women diagnosed with bipolar disorder type I, II or not otherwise specified were included and matched with a control group of 63 healthy women. Demographic and clinical data, structured sexual health measures and extensive assessment of sexual risk behavior were obtained and compared between groups.

Unplanned pregnancies and reproductive health among women with bipolar disorder.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate reproductive health and level of planning of pregnancies among women with bipolar disorder (BDW).

Methods: 63 euthymic women, with bipolar disorder type I, II or not otherwise specified diagnosis, were included and were matched with a control group of 63 healthy women. Demographic and clinical data, structured reproductive health measures and planning level of pregnancies were obtained and compared between groups.

Toward the identification of neurocognitive subtypes in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: Cross-sectional and meta-analytic studies showed that patients with bipolar disorder (BD) had neurocognitive impairments even during periods of euthymia. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BD patients with and without clinically significant cognitive impairments, as well as to analyze clinical and functional variables in these subgroups.

Methods: Hundred patients with BD and 40 healthy controls were assessed with an extensive neurocognitive assessment.

Neurocognitive impairments and their relationship with psychosocial functioning in euthymic bipolar II disorder.

The aim of this study was to compare neurocognitive functioning between euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder (BDI), bipolar II disorder (BDII), and healthy controls. An additional aim was to estimate the relationship between neurocognitive impairments and psychosocial functioning. Eighty-seven patients with BDI (n = 48) or BDII (n = 39) and 39 healthy controls were included.

Neurocognitive and symptomatic predictors of functional outcome in bipolar disorders: a prospective 1 year follow-up study.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the predictive value of cognitive impairments and time spent ill in long-term functional outcome of patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods: Thirty five patients with euthymic BD completed a neurocognitive battery to assess verbal memory, attention, and executive functions at study entry. The course of illness was documented prospectively for a period longer than 12 months using a modified life charting technique based on the NIMH life-charting method.

Heterogeneity in cognitive functioning among patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: Nowadays it is not clear if in bipolar disorders (BD) cognitive impairments are heterogeneous and if so which are the variables that determine it.

Methods: Fifty patients with BD and thirty healthy controls were clinically evaluated including measures of obstetric complications history. All subjects completed an extensive neuropsychological battery selected to asses premorbid IQ and different cognitive domains.

Cognitive and motor features in elderly people with bipolar disorder.

Background: Although elderly people will represent one third of the bipolar population in a few years, data about cognitive and motor features in these patients are very scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive and motor functioning between elderly euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy controls, as well as to determine the degree of correlation with psychosocial functioning.

Methods: Euthymic older adults with BD (n=20) and healthy controls (n=20) were evaluated with traditional clinical instruments and measures of exposure to psychotropic drugs and extrapyramidal symptoms.