Decision-making in Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: a Comparative Approach

EZEQUIEL GLEICHGERRCHT; FACUNDO MANES; MARÍA ROCA; SERGIO STREJILEVICH; TERESA TORRALVA

Buenos Aires

Encuentro; Join Mid-Year Meeting; 2008

The International Neuropsychological Society, Sociedad de Neuropsicología de Argentina

Objective: Bipolar disorder an schizophrenia are two distinct nosologies that have been shown to share overlapping genes. While previous studies have looked at patients with bipolar disorder (BIP) and schizophrenia (SCH) independently, few authors have compared both neuropathologies from a holistic approach. Participants and methods: the present study compared the performance of BIP (n=15), SCH (n=15 and healthy controls (n=15) on a complete battery of neuropsychological tests, with a focus on decision-making profiles as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). An innovative approach was used to supplement the results of the IGT standard block analysis, in which groups were compared on a trial by trial basis according to their relative risk preference. Results: We found that this approach was clearer in its qualitative information, but it also revealed significant differences between groups that were oblivious with the regular analysis. Additionally, an intragroup comparison of risk versus safe cards showed significant differences only among controls, revealing only this group adopts a convenient strategy. Significant correlations were found for both the las block and overall IGT score with measures of memory, attention, and executive functions. Conclusions: Studies of this calibre are crucial in our understanding of clinical profiles associated with illnesses that are usually exclusively analyzed from a psychiatric perspective, by incorporating neuropsychological variables and innovative approaches to their analysis.