Attention mechanisms in bipolar depression.
Item
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Title
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Attention mechanisms in bipolar depression.
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Identifier
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AAI3063809
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identifier
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3063809
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Creator
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Burdick, Katherine Elizabeth.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Jeffrey Halperin
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Date
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2002
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Neuroscience | Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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Background. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 6.5% of the population and consists of both manic and depressive episodes, often resulting in chronic psychosocial impairment. Cognitive deficits are common among patients with bipolar disorder during acute episodes of depression and mania (Reitan & Wolfson, 1997). Among the commonly observed deficits are psychomotor abnormalities and attentional dysfunction (Goodwin & Jamison, 1990). Few studies to date have investigated the underlying information-processing deficit within the attentional domain in patients with bipolar depression. The current study will quantify attentional deficits as they relate to the severity of the depression and the degree of psychomotor retardation in a group of patients with bipolar depression.;Methods. 23 medicated, non-psychotic, depressed outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for Bipolar I or Bipolar II disorder were compared with 27 age-matched, non-psychiatric control subjects on a neuropsychological battery of psychomotor and attentional tasks to further evaluate the nature, extent, and potential correlation of attention and psychomotor disturbances in this population. Psychopathological severity was concurrently measured to establish its relationship to cognitive dysfunction.;Results. Results indicate a significant difference between groups on measures of executive attention, suggesting an impairment in inhibitory processes in patients with bipolar depression. No group differences were seen on the primary variables of a double-key version of Posner's covert orientation of visual attention designed to measure automatic, non-executive attention; however, secondary analyses suggest a deficit in the normal pattern of inhibition of return (IOR) in patients with bipolar depression. Depressive severity was not significantly correlated with executive attentional impairment. Psychomotor variables demonstrated a weak relationship with attention deficits.;Discussion. The present research provides preliminary evidence identifying impairment of the executive anterior attention network in depressed subjects with BP disorder. Additionally, there may be some dysfunction in the executive control of the automatic aspects of the dynamic deployment of attention (posterior attention network) in depressed subjects with BP disorder. Severity of depression was not significantly correlated with attentional impairment. Psychomotor retardation was only weakly correlated to executive attention deficits. Future studies in larger samples are needed to confirm and clarify the current findings.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
