THE AGING EFFECT ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN PATIENTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDERS
Authors: Chang *Yun-Hsuan , Huang Chih-Chun 
Published: February 2025

Background

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating and enduring mental condition characterized by consistent lifetime prevalence rates across different genders and ethnic backgrounds. BD is notorious for its high relapse rates and erratic mood fluctuations, which can profoundly disrupt various facets of life. These disruptions extend to sleep patterns, interpersonal relationships, and occupational functioning. Previous research has consistently highlighted impairments across a range of neuropsychological and social cognitive domains in individuals with BD.

Aims & Objectives

This study seeks to delve into the impact of age on various neuropsychological functions and emotional intelligence (EI) in BD patients.

Methods

We enlisted a cohort of 147 BD patients from both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. All participants provided informed consent and participated in an extensive battery of assessments.

These assessments included the Mayer– Salovey– Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the Continuous Performance Test (CPT). To gauge the severity of their symptoms, we employed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young’ s Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Additionally, we meticulously recorded various clinical characteristics.

Results

Our findings unveiled a significant age-related effect on both Experiential and Strategic EI, as well as on the working memory index derived from the WMS-III and the frequency of perseverative errors on the WCST. Intriguingly, no significant age effect was observed concerning sustained attention. To gain a more nuanced understanding, we conducted partial correlation analyses while controlling for the influence of HDRS and YMRS scores. This revealed that the age effect continued to exert its influence on all EI tasks, except for the task related to perceiving faces. Furthermore, the age effect persevered in measures of the working memory index and executive functions assessed by the WCST.

Discussion & Conclusion

While our study has provided valuable insights into the interplay between age and cognitive functions among BD patients, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations of its cross- sectional design. To comprehensively capture the long-term impact of age on the multifaceted functions of BD patients, we advocate for future research employing a longitudinal follow-up design. Such an approach would enable the monitoring of age-related changes and potentially lead to the development of tailored clinical therapeutic interventions for individuals grappling with BD. A profound understanding of the intricate relationship between age and cognitive functioning is indispensable for enhancing the quality of life and treatment outcomes for individuals living with BD. The implications of our study suggest that the process of aging has a more pronounced impact on EI and executive function in BD patients than the severity of their symptoms. In contrast, the impairments in sustained attention and memory functions appear to be predominantly influenced by the severity of their symptoms, rather than age-related factors.

References

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