SYMPOSIA

Poster Presentations
[PP-061] Ref. No: 233
Evaluation of cognitive functions in euthymic bipolar patients using
mono- and multi- drug treatments
Birgül Elbozan Cumurcu 1 , Rıfat Karlıdağ 1 , Şükrü Kartalcı 1 , Işıl Göğcegöz Gül 1 , Süleyman Demir 2 , Bahar Yeşil 1
1 Inonu University Medical Faculty, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Malatya, Turkey
2 Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiartry, Tokat, Turkey
E-mail: baharyesilege@hotmail.com
Objective: Some studies on patients suffering from bipolar disorder show that in active and remission periods of the disorder there are
cognitive insufficiencies (1,2,3). The causes of cognitive insuffuciencies in bipolar disorder is not understood yet. We anticipate that multidrug
usage has more adverse effects on cognitive functions than mono- drug usage and our aim in this study was to investigate effects of
drugs used in treatment of bipolar disorder on cognitive functions. In this study we evaluated the cognitive functions of bipolar patients
who were in their euthymic period taking mono- and multi-drug regimens and compared them with a healthy control group.
Methods: Eighty bipolar I and II patients diagnosed based on the DSM-IV criteria and 80 healthy controls were included in the study and
two groups matched according to age, sex, and education aspects. The patients and controls gave written informed consent to participate
in the study. The necessary approval and ethic committee reviews and permits were obtained prior to the study. The patients were
evaluated using a psychiatric interview, the Young Mania Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. A large neurocognitive battery
(Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, Stroop,Verbal Memory Processes Scale) was used for neurocognitive assessment.
Results: In most cognitive tests the results of the patient group were worse than the control group. The Verbal Memory Processes
Scale-learning scores and long term memory scores were higher in the patients on a mono-drug regimen. All other tests did not show
significant differences.
Conclusions: Our study showed that the cognitive function of bipolar patients had deficiencies not only in active periods of bipolar
disorder but also in remission periods, like previous studies (4,5,6).
The Verbal Memory Processes Scale learning scores and long term memory scores showed better results in patients using a mono-drug
compared to the ones on a multi-drug regimen. Other tests did not show significant differences. Future studies with larger number of
patients may show different results. Also other studies to investigate the effects of each drug group on cognitive functions in bipolar
patients are needed.
Key words: Bipolar disorder, cognitive functions, euthymia
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011;21(Suppl. 2):S158
[PP-062] Ref. No: 247
Adult ADHD symptoms in cannabis dependence and the importance of
comorbidity in Adult ADHD
Umut Mert Aksoy, Şennur Günay Aksoy, Fulya Maner
Bakirkoy Research And Teaching Hospital For Neuropsychiatry, İstanbul, Turkey
E-mail: drumutmertaksoy@gmail.com
Background: Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disoeder (A-ADHD) is one of the most important neuropsychiatric disorders originating
in childhood. According to the last epidemiological studies, ADHD can be persistent into adulthood. Sixty percent of childhood ADHD
cases present with at one or more symptoms in adulthood (Biedermann 2000, Wilens 2006). A prevalance rate of 4.4% of adults has been
reported for ADHD (Fayyad 2007, Kessler 2006).
Comorbidity with alcohol and substance use disorders in A-ADHD is also common and reported as 50%, which is 2-3 times more common
than in the normal population (15%) (Katusic 2005). A-ADHD is reported to be an independent risk factor for substance abuse. Comorbid
substance use disorders have been observed at rates of 9-30& (Wilens 2006).
Individuals with substance use dişorders comorbid with A-ADHD do not differ in substance preference from individuals without A-ADHD
comorbidity. Cannabis is the most abused substance.
Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the existence and intensity of Adult ADHD symptoms in cannabis dependent individiuals and
discuss the importance of comorbid A-ADHD.
Methods: Seventy patients participated and gave informed consent. The participants were selected from patients who underwent
S158 Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Vol: 21, Supplement: 2, 2011 - www.psikofarmakoloji.org