Behavioral self-regulation in pediatric bipolar disorder and healthy offspring of bipolar patients

Objectives: This study investigated behavioral self-regulation problems using the Children's Hostility Inventory (CHI) in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), healthy offspring of bipolar disorder patients (HOBD), and healthy controls (HC) without previous history of psychiatric disorders. Methods: The CHI was administered to 41 consecutive children and adolescents diagnosed with PBD, to 16 HOBD, and to 22 HC. The inventory assessed irritability, expression, hostility, and aggression and was completed by the children with the help of their mothers. Adolescents and their respective parents were interviewed separately using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). Results: All subscales of the CHI presented statistically significant differences, except for the subscale assessing feelings of suspicion. Pairwise comparisons revealed consistently significant differences between the PBD group and controls, indicating more self-regulation difficulties in the PBD group, represented by high levels of hostility and aggressive behavior. There were no significant differences between the PBD and HOBD groups. Conclusions: Future studies should further investigate if such behavior is state-dependent or a trait of bipolar juvenile expression. Expression of hostility and irritability should be considered relevant targets in psychosocial approaches addressing this population.

Alterações neuropsicológicas no transtorno bipolar / Neuropsychological disturbances in bipolar disorder

OBJETIVO: Revisão sistemática dos estudos controlados publicados nos últimos 15 anos sobre alterações neuropsicológicas no transtorno bipolar. MÉTODO: Foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico no Medline, Lilacs, PubMed e ISI, selecionando-se o período de 1990 a 2005. Os estudos foram organizados a partir da comparação entre a amostra selecionada (bipolar versus outra patologia versus controles saudáveis). Nós só incluímos estudos controlados e com uma amostra de pacientes maior que 10, totalizando 73 artigos, do quais 53 foram selecionados para esta revisão. RESULTADOS: Pacientes com transtorno bipolar apresentam dificuldades em vários domínios cognitivos, sendo que alguns persistem mesmo após remissão dos sintomas. Os déficits encontrados se localizaram basicamente nas funções executivas. Na comparação com pacientes portadores de esquizofrenia, os bipolares apresentam perfil de alterações cognitivas mais leves, o que aponta para diferenças em termos de prognóstico da doença e para anormalidades em circuitos neuroanatômicos específicos. Houve correlação positiva entre déficits cognitivos e número de episódios ou internações. As medicações utilizadas para estabilização do humor podem ter um impacto negativo na cognição. CONCLUSÕES: Os prejuízos são sugestivos de disfunção em circuitos fronto-estriatais específicos que podem, em parte, explicar as dificuldades na adaptação psicossocial destes pacientes. Estudos futuros devem avaliar a eficácia de programas de reabilitação neuropsicológica, os quais visam, por meio de treinos cognitivos, minimizar o impacto dos déficits encontrados na vida diária dos pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: Systematic literature review of the controlled studies published in the last 15 years on neuropsychological deficits in Bipolar Disorder. METHOD: Bibliographical research was completed through Medline, Lilacs, PubMed and ISI, speciafically for 1990 to 2005 period. Selected studies were organized beginning with the comparison among the selected sample (bipolar versus other pathology versus control healthy). We included only controlled studies with a patient sample larger than 10, and 73 papers were found, being that 53 selected for this systematic review. RESULTS: Patients with Bipolar Disorder present difficulties in several cognitive domains which partially persist even after acute episodes acute episodes. The deficits impaired basically the executive functions. When compared to schizophrenia, bipolar patients present milder deficits in the neuropsychological tests, which may explain differences in terms of disease outcome and specific circuitry abnormalities. There was a positive correlation between cognitive deficits and number of episodes or hospitalizations. The medications used for mood stabilization can produce a negative impact on cognition. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormalities suggest a dysfunction in specific frontostriatal circuits, and may partially explain the difficulties in the psychosocial adaptation of these patients. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of neuropsychological rehabilitation programs, which seek through cognitive training to minimize the impact of these deficits in the every day life.