Cognitive Impairments in Patients with Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

Min-Kyung Kim; Eun-Jung Lee; Hee-Cheol Kim

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2012.51.2.70

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.51(2) > 1017618

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Kim, Lee, and Kim: Cognitive Impairments in Patients with Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2012; 51(2): 70-76.

Published online: 31 March 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2012.51.2.70

Cognitive Impairments in Patients with Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

Min-Kyung Kim, MA, Eun-Jung Lee, MA, Hee-Cheol Kim, MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Eun-Jung Lee, MA. Department of Psychiatry, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Dongsan Medical Center, 56 Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 705-701, Korea. Tel +82-53-250-7991, Fax +82-53-250-7926, eveyi2000@hanmail.net

Received 11 December 2011 Revised 17 January 2012 Accepted 14 February 2012

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of cognitive impairment between depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Methods

Participants were adults between the ages of 18 and 65, and included 40 healthy control subjects, 40 outpatients diagnosed with depressive disorder, and 35 outpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Full-Scale Intelligence Quotients (FIQ) were measured using the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The levels of Memory Quotients (MQ) were yielded on a Rey-Kim Memory Test, and executive functions were assessed using Kim's Frontal-Executive Function Test. Scores of each scale were compared among the three groups using ANOVA.

Results

With respect to FIQ, Performance Intelligence Quotient, block design, object assembly, Executive Intelligence Quotient, Stroop test-interference trial, verbal fluency, design fluency, MQ, and recall, depressive disorder patients and bipolar disorder patients showed similar results, and both patient groups were impaired compared to normal controls. The depressive disorder group showed significantly lower scores on Digit Symbol and the Stroop Test than both normal control and bipolar disorder groups did. The bipolar disorder group showed significantly lower scores on the Verbal Learning Test and Recognition task than both the normal control and depressive disorder groups did.

Conclusion

A similar deficit profile was observed in both patient groups, involving poorer visual-spatial function, cognitive flexibility, and overall executive function/memory. Depressed patients showed particular difficulties with tasks requiring sustained effort, such as word learning and free recall. In contrast with depressed patients, Bipolar patients showed particular difficulties with higher conceptualization, selective attention/control, and recognition.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder, Depressive disorder, Cognitive Impairments

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Comparison of the control and the two patient groups on the K-WAIS

^* : p<0.05, ^** : p<0.01, 1 : Depression, 2 : Bipolar, 3 : Normal, K-WAIS : Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, M : Mean, SD : Standard deviation, FIQ : Full-Scale Intelligence Quotients, PIQ : Performance Intelligence Quotient, VIQ : Verval Intelligence Quotient

Table 2

Comparison of the control and the two patient groups on the Neuropsychological test

^* : p<0.01, 1 : Depression, 2 : Bipolar, 3 : Normal, EIQ : Executive Intelligence Quotient, K-AVLT : Korean-Auditory Verbal Learing Test, M : Mean, MQ : Memory Quotients, SD : Standard deviation

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