Dataset Information

Understanding cognitive impairment in mood disorders: mediation analyses in the UK Biobank cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cognitive impairment is strongly linked with persistent disability in people with mood disorders, but the factors that explain cognitive impairment in this population are unclear.

Aims

To estimate the total effect of (a) bipolar disorder and (b) major depression on cognitive function, and the magnitude of the effect that is explained by potentially modifiable intermediate factors.

Method

Cross-sectional study using baseline data from the UK Biobank cohort. Participants were categorised as having bipolar disorder (n = 2709), major depression (n = 50 975) or no mood disorder (n = 102 931 and n = 105 284). The outcomes were computerised tests of reasoning, reaction time and memory. The potential mediators were cardiometabolic disease and psychotropic medication. Analyses were informed by graphical methods and controlled for confounding using regression, propensity score-based methods and G-computation.

Results

Group differences of small magnitude were found on a visuospatial memory test. Z-score differences for the bipolar disorder group were in the range -0.23 to -0.17 (95% CI -0.39 to -0.03) across different estimation methods, and for the major depression group they were approximately -0.07 (95% CI -0.10 to -0.03). One-quarter of the effect was mediated via psychotropic medication in the bipolar disorder group (-0.05; 95% CI -0.09 to -0.01). No evidence was found for mediation via cardiometabolic disease.

Conclusions

In a large community-based sample in middle to early old age, bipolar disorder and depression were associated with lower visuospatial memory performance, in part potentially due to psychotropic medication use. Mood disorders and their treatments will have increasing importance for population cognitive health as the proportion of older adults continues to grow.

Declaration of interest

I.J.D. is a UK Biobank participant. J.P.P. is a member of the UK Biobank Steering Committee.

SUBMITTER: Cullen B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7825642 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Understanding cognitive impairment in mood disorders: mediation analyses in the UK Biobank cohort.

Cullen Breda B Smith Daniel J DJ Deary Ian J IJ Pell Jill P JP Keyes Katherine M KM Evans Jonathan J JJ

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science 20191101 5

<h4>Background</h4>Cognitive impairment is strongly linked with persistent disability in people with mood disorders, but the factors that explain cognitive impairment in this population are unclear.<h4>Aims</h4>To estimate the total effect of (a) bipolar disorder and (b) major depression on cognitive function, and the magnitude of the effect that is explained by potentially modifiable intermediate factors.<h4>Method</h4>Cross-sectional study using baseline data from the UK Biobank cohort. Partic ...[more]

PMID: 31412972

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Dataset Information

Understanding cognitive impairment in mood disorders: mediation analyses in the UK Biobank cohort.

Background

Aims

Method

Results

Conclusions

Declaration of interest

Publications

Understanding cognitive impairment in mood disorders: mediation analyses in the UK Biobank cohort.

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