Is the lack of association between cognitive complaints and objective cognitive functioning in patients with bipolar disorder moderated by depressive symptoms?

Abstract

Cognitive complaints are not associated with objective cognitive functioning, irrespective of depressive symptoms. However, cognitive complaints are indicative for depressive symptoms. Clinicians should be to be alert to depressive symptoms rather than objective cognitive problems in patients expressing cognitive complaints.

Assessment of subjective and objective cognitive function in bipolar disorder: Correlations, predictors and the relation to psychosocial function

“…In the sub-analysis in the present study, however, the CFQ showed no correlation with objective measures of cognitive dysfunction. This is consistent with two other studies (Burdick et al, 2005;van der Werf-Eldering et al, 2011) of which one study compared objective cognitive dysfunction with three self-rated cognitive inventories, including the CFQ, and none of the inventories showed an association with objective cognitive dysfunction (Burdick et al, 2005). The same study also found a strong correlation between the three self-reports suggesting a true absence of a correlation between subjective and objective cognitive dysfunction.…”

Adaptation and validation of the “cognitive complaints in bipolar disorder rating assessment” (COBRA) in Chinese bipolar patients

“…The result was in accordance to that of the study of Burdick et al (2005). But other previous studies assessing the relationship between subjective and objective cognitive measures have shown controversial results (Burdick et al, 2001;Aydemir and Kaya, 2009;Arts et al, 2011;van der Werf-Eldering et al, 2011;Svendsen et al, 2012). Therefore, the findings suggest that most bipolar patients demonstrate objective signs of cognitive impairment, but they are unable to report them accurately.…”

Neurocognitive Functioning in Bipolar Disorder: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Data

“…Acute mania is reported to adversely affect impulse control (Ryan et al 2012 ) and executive function (Dixon et al 2004 ). Acute bipolar depression is associated with an attentional bias (Holmes et al 2008 ) with lowering of mental speed, impaired attention in general (van der Werf-Eldering et al 2010 ;Liu et al 2002 ) and verbal fl uency (Chaves et al 2011 ), verbal recall and fi ne motor skills impairment (Malhi et al 2007a ). In both acutely depressed and manic patients, impaired performance on theory of mind tests was found, even when memory was controlled for (Kerr et al 2003 ).…”

“…These include the possible adverse effect of brain white matter lesions that are sometimes found in remitted BD patients and in patients with schizophrenia but apparently do not underlie cognitive defi cits per se (Krabbendam et al 2000 ). Similarly, a lifetime comorbid alcohol use disorder, also does not seem to correlate with neurocognitive performance (van der Werf-Eldering et al 2010 ).…”

“…The limited literature suggests that in general, the patients' self-reports of impairment do not correlate or predict objective neuropsychological defi cits (Burdick et al 2005 ;Chan et al 2012 ;van der Werf-Eldering et al 2011 ). Maybe there is some weak correlation between subjective complains and defi cits in attention, memory and execute function .…”