Bipolar Disorder: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Executive Function in Adolescent Bipolar Disorder With and Without ADHD Comorbidity

Alessandra M Passarotti, Nidhi Trivedi and Manhar Patel

Background: In adolescents with bipolar disorder (ABD) a profile of mood dysregulation, impulsivity and poor cognitive control has been associated with poor executive function. However the underlying mechanisms of real-life executive dysfunction in ABD are scarcely understood.

Method: This study examined domains of Executive Function (EF) in twenty-nine adolescents with adolescent bipolar disorder (ABD), with and without ADHD comorbidity (mean age=12.66; SD=2.21), using the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Parent Report (BRIEF-PR), the Revised Conners’ Parental Rating Scale (CPRS-R), and standardized neuropsychological tests of attention, working memory and executive function. Moreover, we explored whether ADHD comorbidity in ABD may worsen EF.

Results: Our findings indicate that relative to population norms both patient groups exhibited significant impairment on the BRIEF sub-domains. Moreover, the comorbid group was significantly more impaired than the ABD group in the BRIEF-PR Monitoring domain.

Conclusion: The current findings document pervasive deficits in everyday life executive function and related cognitive and affective domains in ABD, while also contributing initial knowledge about the effects of ADHD comorbidity in ABD on executive function.