Euthymic bipolar disorder: Are there cognitive dysfunctions?

Abstract

Introduction

The presence of cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder is well established, but in the euthymic phase appear a few studies that point to the absence of cognitive deficits.

Objectives

Alert to cases of euthymic bipolar disorder with no cognitive dysfunction.

Methods

Review of relevant literature and description of a clinical case with psychological tests that assess memory and executive functions.

Results

Description of a clinical case: FP is a middle age woman, early retired, with a bipolar disorder type 2, which begins at age 30.

Her disease has several depressive episodes, and in the last 10 years, she spent most of the days lying in bed and repeatedly resorted to the emergency department for excessive voluntary drug intoxication or simply because she “wanted” to be hospitalized; her husband could not stand this situation. In September of 2009, in addition to the medical and psychological consultations, she starts attending group therapy; over the next 6 months her medication was changed and finally her disease goes into remission.

The psychological tests, made at euthymic phase, show’s no significant deficits in verbal memory and executive functions.

Conclusions

This patient has a disease with prolonged course and multiple hospitalizations and drug treatments, but don’t present relevant cognitive deficits, which may point to the fact that cognitive impairment is determined by biological factors.