-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Objectives: Few studies of neuropsychological function in major depression have examined emotional processing or the impact of gender. Patients have also been compared with highly selected control participants and rarely with other patient groups. The objective of this study was to compare neuropsychological function in a major depressive episode (MDE) with a group of patients with an anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and healthy controls, to include measures of emotional processing and to analyse the effects of gender on neuropsychological function and emotional processing in these groups. Method: One hundred and one medication-free patients with MDE, 30 patients with SAD and 76 healthy control participants were recruited. The groups were matched for age and estimated premorbid intelligence and education. Subjects performed a battery of neuropsychological tests assessing; verbal learning and memory, visuospatial learning and memory, attention, executive function and psychomotor performance. They also performed a task measuring the accuracy of recognition of facial emotional expressions. Results: Compared with healthy participants and those with SAD, patients with MDE were significantly impaired in verbal learning and spatial working memory. The SAD group misclassified significantly more neutral expressions as angry and fewer as sad, compared with the MDE group and healthy controls, but there were no significant differences between the MDE group and healthy controls. The profile of performance was the same regardless of gender. Conclusions: The study confirms a significant impairment in neuropsychological function in a clinical sample of outpatients with MDE, which is likely to have important implications for day-to-day functioning and treatment.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 06/2012; 46(10):972-81. · 2.93 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The age of the first episode of illness in Bipolar Disorder has been shown to be an important predictor of outcome with early onset, particularly onset before puberty, associated with greater comorbidity, a poorer quality of life and greatest impairment in functioning.
Baseline data from a psychotherapy study was used to examine the prevalence of other comorbid psychiatric conditions and the impact of onset at an early age on both self harming behaviour and suicide attempts in young people with Bipolar Disorder.
This study of 100 adolescents and young adults (aged 15-36 years) with Bipolar Disorder showed that comorbid conditions were very common, even at the start of their bipolar illness. Comorbidity increased as the age of onset decreased with very early onset (<13 years) patients bearing the greatest burden of disease. Greater comorbidity also significantly increased the risk of having self harmed and attempted suicide with high lethal intent. Self harming behaviour was predicted by having a lifetime diagnoses of Borderline Personality Disorder and Panic Disorder along with an early age of onset of Bipolar Disorder. In contrast, previous suicide attempts were predicted by greater comorbidity and not by very early (<13 years) age of onset.
Journal of affective disorders 11/2011; 136(3):1212-5. · 3.76 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This case study explains how a psychotherapy previously used with adults can be used with adolescents by focusing on the specific developmental issues associated with adolescence.
Bipolar disorder is a damaging disorder to experience during the developmental phase of adolescence. Interpersonal social rhythm psychotherapy has been developed as an adjunct to medication for managing bipolar disorder and shows some promising outcomes in adults.
This is a single case study design drawn from a larger randomised control trial of two psychotherapies for bipolar disorder. The case study addressed the question: How can Interpersonal social rhythm therapy be applied with adolescents who have bipolar disorder?
This study used a purposeful sampling process by selecting the youngest adolescent participating in the randomised control trial. All the subject's sessions of Interpersonal social rhythm therapy were taped, transcribed and analysed. The analysis involved describing the process of psychotherapy as it occurred over time, mapping the process as a trajectory across the three phases of psychotherapy experience and focusing the analysis around the impact of bipolar disorder and IPSRT on adolescent developmental issues, specifically the issue of identity development.
Interpersonal social rhythm therapy allowed the therapist to address developmental issues within its framework. As a result of participation in the psychotherapy the adolescent was able to manage her mood symptoms and develop a sense of identity that was age-appropriate.
Interpersonal social rhythm therapy provided the adolescent in the case study the opportunity to consider what it meant to have bipolar disorder and to integrate this meaning into her sense of self.
Bipolar disorder is a chronic and recurring disorder that can have a serious impact on development and functioning. Interpersonal social rhythm therapy provides an approach to nursing care that enables adolescents to improve social functioning.
Journal of Clinical Nursing 02/2009; 18(1):141-9. · 1.12 Impact Factor
