The effect of concomitant benzodiazepine use on neurocognition in stable, long-term patients with bipolar disorder
Objective: Neurocognitive dysfunction is a common feature of bipolar disorder even in euthymia, and psychopharmacological treatment could have an effect on cognition. Long-term prescription of benzodiazepines in bipolar disorder is a common practice, and their effect on neurocognition has not been well studied in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of concomitant benzodiazepine long-term use on neurocognitive function in stable euthymic bipolar disorder patients. Methods: Seventy-three euthymic bipolar disorder outpatients and 40 healthy individuals were assessed using a neurocognitive battery. Patients were classified in two groups according to the presence of…
Clinical and neuroimaging characterization of two C9orf72-positive siblings with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia
C9orf72 expansion is the main genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and has also been found in a wide spectrum of other neurodegenerative diseases (...
Comparative neurocognitive effects of lithium and anticonvulsants in long-term stable bipolar patients
Background: The aim of choosing a mood-stabilizing drug (lithium or anticonvulsants) or a combination of them with minimal neurocognitive effects is to stimulate the development of criteria for a therapeutic adequacy, particularly in Bipolar Disorder (BD) patients who are clinically stabilized. Method: Three groups of BD patients were established according to their treatment: (i) lithium monotherapy (n=29); (ii) lithium together with one or more anticonvulsants (n=28); and (iii) one or more anticonvulsants (n=16). A group of healthy controls served as the control (n=25). The following tests were applied: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Trail Making Test, Wechsler Memory Scale, Rey Comple…