Cognitive function and metabolic syndrome in unipolar and bipolar depression: A pilot study

Abstract

Introduction Cognitive function is impaired in depressive disorders. Among several factors implicated in regulation of the cognitive function, metabolic syndrome has been showed have a pivotal role cognitive functioning in healthy controls. However, the role of metabolic syndrome in regulating the cognitive functioning of subjects affected by depressive disorders is little studied. Objectives To investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome in regulation of cognition in unipolar and bipolar depression. Methods One-hundred-sixty-five people affected by a depressive disorder (unipolar depression, UP; bipolar depression, BP) were enrolled at the Psychiatric and Clinic Psychology Unit of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. A group of healthy controls (HC) matched for agender and age was enrolled. The cognitive functions were evaluated with a computerized tool, THINC-it. Results UP and BP had lower performances in THINC-it cognitive domains than HC. Metabolic syndrome is a negative, independent predictor of low performance in the THINC-it cognitive domains of people with depressive disorders. Conclusions Our findings confirm that metabolic syndrome has a prominent role in determining the cognitive efficiency in depressive disorders, independently by the presence of a unipolar or bipolar depressive disorder. Metabolic syndrome has to be considered a major factor that should be considered in the treatment strategies of cognitive functioning improvement of people affected by depressive disorders. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• Metabolic syndrome
• cognitive function
• bipolar disorder
• major depressive disorder