1
|
Degraff Z, Souza GS, Santos NA, Shoshina II, Felisberti FM, Fernandes TP, Sigurdsson G. Brain atrophy and cognitive decline in bipolar disorder: Influence of medication use, symptomatology and illness duration. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 163:421-429. [PMID: 37276646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. To date, the association of biological and psychopathological processes in BPD has not been extensively studied on a cognitive and cortical basis at the same time. We investigated whether brain atrophy (in prefrontal, temporal and occipital cortices) was associated with cognitive, biological and clinical processes in patients with BPD and healthy controls (HCs). A total of 104 participants (56 with BPD) completed tasks that measured attention, memory, information processing speed, inhibitory control, visuospatial working memory and cognitive flexibility. In addition, structural brain scans were obtained using high-resolution MRI. Outcomes of the measurements were examined using robust multiple mediation analyses. BPD patients showed greater cortical atrophy across all regions of interest when compared to HCs, linked to cognitive decline. BPD patients had slower reaction times and markedly increased errors of commission on the tasks. The outcomes were significantly influenced by medication use, symptomatology and illness duration. The findings showcase the complexity of brain structures and networks as well as the physiological mechanisms underlying diverse BPD symptomatology and endophenotypes. These differences were pronounced in patients with BPD, motivating further investigations of pathophysiological mechanisms involved in brain atrophy and cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeke Degraff
- Svenskagier Neurologie, Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Neurology, Belgium.
| | | | | | | | | | - Thiago P Fernandes
- Federal University of Para, Para, Brazil; Federal University of Paraiba, Paraiba, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fernandes TP, Shoshina II, Oliveira MEC, Andreevna VE, Silva GM, Santos NA. Correlates of clinical variables on early-stage visual processing in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 149:323-330. [PMID: 35339912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of noninvasive tools can help understand mental states and changes that are caused by medications, symptom severity, and other clinical variables. We investigated low-level visual processing using the contrast sensitivity function (CSF), a reliable, robust, and widely used approach. Our main purpose was (1) to evaluate visual impairments in schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD) patients and (2) to investigate associations between clinical variables and visual function in both diseases. Fifty-six healthy controls (HCs; mean age = 31.04 years), 42 BPD patients (mean age = 32.84 years) who took only lithium, and 39 SCZ patients who took only olanzapine (mean age = 32.80 years) were recruited for this study. CSF differed between groups. Both groups of patients exhibited lower discrimination at low, mid-, and high spatial frequencies compared with HCs. No differences were observed between patients, with the exception of high spatial frequency. These impairments were also related to clinical variables, revealed by a strong effect in the mediation analyses. These findings may aid investigations of other clinical variables and the role of state- and trait-like effects on visual and cognitive processing in these patient populations. This study underscores the need for visual remediation interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago P Fernandes
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil.
| | - Irina I Shoshina
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Milena E C Oliveira
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriella M Silva
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Natanael A Santos
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shoshina II, Almeida NL, Oliveira MEC, Trombetta BNT, Silva GM, Fars J, Santos NA, Fernandes TP. Serum levels of olanzapine are associated with acute cognitive effects in bipolar disorder. Psychiatry Res 2022; 310:114443. [PMID: 35286918 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar (BPD) patients have deficits in cognition, but there are still controversies about the effects of some medications on their cognitive performance. Here, we investigated the relationship between cognition in terms of executive functions, memory, and attention in both first-episode medication-naive BPD patients and BPD patients taking olanzapine. Forty-one healthy controls, 40 unmedicated drug-naive BPD patients, and 34 BPD patients who took only olanzapine were recruited for the study. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Flanker test, Stroop test, and Corsi-block test. Bayesian multivariate regression analysis was run considering maximum robustness to avoid bias and to predict the outcomes. Our results revealed that unmedicated medication-naive BPD patients performed worse than healthy controls and the olanzapine group in some tasks. Additionally, BPD patients who took olanzapine had better cognitive performance than healthy controls and unmedicated BPD patients. The acute cognitive effects were predicted by olanzapine dosage and serum levels (i.e., large effects). The potential pro-cognitive effects of olanzapine in BPD patients should be carefully interpreted by considering various other clinical variables. We expect that our findings will contribute to further research in this area, with the goal of helping other researchers, patients, and the population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina I Shoshina
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, RAS, Laboratory of Vision Physiology, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; St. Petersburg State University, Institute for Cognitive Research, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia L Almeida
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Milena E C Oliveira
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Bianca N T Trombetta
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Gabriella M Silva
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Julien Fars
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Natanael A Santos
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Thiago P Fernandes
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil; Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fernandes TP, Oliveira MEC, Silva GM, Santos NA. Improvement in visual performance after nicotine gum administration in tobacco use disorder: a case report. J Addict Dis 2022; 40:568-576. [PMID: 35264083 DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2021.2020045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic tobacco consumption, identified as Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD), is a public health problem. We present a case report of a 37-year-old Brazilian male diagnosed with TUD at age 26, with no comorbidities, that presented visual improvements (i.e., lower thresholds and better discrimination) after nicotine gum administration. Here, we assessed contrast sensitivity and chromatic discrimination using the Metropsis and the Cambridge Colour Test, respectively. Results showed lower thresholds for both visual tasks after the use of nicotine gum. Even considering this is a single case report, our intent is to open new avenues for research involving smoking, addiction and the use of nicotine gum as a replacement tool or adjuvant tool for improvement of visual and/or cognitive processing. It is well known that nicotine gum has protective effects for some diseases, and improves some cognitive functions. However, unclear were its effects on visual processing of people with TUD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago P Fernandes
- Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Lab, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Milena E C Oliveira
- Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Lab, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Gabriella M Silva
- Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Lab, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Natanael A Santos
- Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Lab, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Almeida NL, Silva JBS, Oliveira MEC, Fernandes TP, Santos NA. Eye movement impairments in children with malnutrition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 57:644-651. [PMID: 35262928 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Malnutrition is characterised by deficient nutrient ingestion and absorption and is still one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Our main rationale was that protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) may affect eye movement in children with malnutrition. Twenty children without PEM (mean age = 10.8; SD = 1.0 years) and 18 children with PEM (mean age = 10.9; SD = 1.2 years) were included in the present study. We applied three types of tests: one that consisted of a maze and two versions of the Spot the Seven Errors test using boats and elephants. Our results indicated that children with PEM exhibited performance deficits in the maze test (p < .001) and Spot the Seven Errors test for both boats (p < .001) and elephants (p < .001). These data suggest that nutritional impairments during the first year of life (i.e., a critical period) can directly impact eye movement. Eye tracking is a reliable technique to investigate higher-order processes, but our results should be interpreted with caution. Our findings highlight the relevance of cognitive development in malnourished children, which can negatively affect their development. Screening, assessment and rehabilitation strategies are essential in this at-risk population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia L Almeida
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Jessica B S Silva
- Department of Psychology, Minas Gerais State University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Milena E C Oliveira
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Thiago P Fernandes
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Natanael A Santos
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil.,Perception, Neuroscience and Behaviour Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|