Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Comparison of Neuropsychological Functions in Euthymic Bipolar I Disorder Patients and General Population

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
Sabra Mousavizadegan 1
Bita Nasrolahi 1
Mohammad Reza Sharbafchi 2
Mehrdad Norouzi 3
1 Department of Psychology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Behavioural Sciences Research Center & Department of Psychiatry, Khorshid Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
10.48305/jims.v44.i854.0366
Abstract
Background: Bipolar disorder is associated with persistent deficits in neuropsychological functions, which may be considered as an endophenotype. This study aimed to compare neuropsychological functions, including cognitive flexibility, inhibition, working memory, selective attention, and sustained attention, in patients with bipolar I disorder in the euthymic phase and healthy individuals.
Methods: In this causal-comparative study, 30 patients with bipolar I disorder in the euthymic phase and 30 healthy individuals, matched for age and gender, were selected through purposive sampling. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted using computerized tools, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (cognitive flexibility), Go/No-Go (inhibition), Wechsler and N-Back (working memory), Stroop (selective attention), and CPT (sustained attention). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) in SPSS version 26.
Findings: The results revealed significant differences between the two groups in several indices. Patients with bipolar disorder exhibited poorer performance compared to the healthy group in cognitive flexibility (perseverative errors, correct responses, and other errors), inhibition (commission error score and percentage), N-Back working memory (omission, correct response count and percentage, mean response time, and standard deviation of response time), and selective attention (number of congruent and incongruent errors, incongruent omissions, and number of correct congruent and incongruent responses). No significant differences were observed in other subscales despite the poorer performance of patients.
Conclusion: It appears that bipolar disorder selectively impacts neuropsychological functions, with these deficits persisting even during the euthymic phase. These findings underscore the importance of cognitive assessment and the consideration of neuropsychological rehabilitation interventions for these patients.

Highlights

Sabra Mousavizadegan: Google Scholar , PubMed

Bita Nasrolahi:Google Scholar , PubMed

Mohammad Reza Sharbafchi:Google Scholar , PubMed

Mehrdad Norouzi:Google Scholar , PubMed

Keywords
Bipolar Disorder
Neuropsychological Tests
Cognition
Executive Function
Cognitive Flexibility
Inhibition
Working Memory
Subjects
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 44, Issue 854
2nd Week, May
May and June 2026
Pages 366-373

  • Receive Date 22 November 2025
  • Accept Date 25 June 2026