Bipolar Disorder Type I (BDI) and Bipolar Disorder Type II (BDII) are chronic and disabling conditions characterized by manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes. Cognitive disturbances seem to affect both the subtypes of BD, specifically in frontal executive functioning and verbal learning working memory. The aim of the current study was to verify whether the transcranial tDCS applied to cerebellar and prefrontal cortices could improve the cognitive functioning of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder or not, and assess the variation of the cognitive functioning and the global information processing stream through neuropsychological, neurophysiological and neurological measures. 25 BD outpatients underwent prefrontal (anodal) and cerebellar (cathodal) tDCS for 3 consecutive weeks. All participants were clinically assessed through neuropsychological and neurophysiological (P300) examinations at baseline and after tDCS therapy. Neuropsychological tests in the domains of visuo-spatial memory and attention improved significantly (p<0.05) or showed a favourable statistical trend (p<0.07) after the treatment. The patients who had worse baseline cognitive performances showed a more relevant improvement in all the neuropsychological domains investigated. After tDCS treatment the P3b component revealed a significant higher amplitude and shorter latency (Latency: Fz p=0.02, Cz p=0.03, Pz p=0.04; Amplitude: Fz p=0.24, Cz p=0.02, Pz p=0.35). In our study, prefrontal-excitatory and cerebellar-inhibitory stimulations lead to better global cognitive performances quantified through neuropsychological, neurophysiological and neurological assessments. This improvement could result from the normalization of prefrontal-talamic-cerebellum circuit activity pattern, that has been proven to be altered in BD. Prefronto-cerebellar tDCS may represent a useful therapeutic tools to increase the efficiency of standard treatment used for BD.
Prefronto-cerebellar tDCS improves cognition in euthymic bipolar patients: preliminary neuropsychological and neurophysiological (P300) findings / Mannarelli, Daniela; Bersani, FRANCESCO SAVERIO; Pauletti, Caterina; Minichino, Amedeo; DE LUCIA, MARIA CATERINA; F., Spagnoli; Biondi, Massimo; DELLE CHIAIE, Roberto; Fattapposta, Francesco. - In: NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TRENDS. - ISSN 1970-321X. - STAMPA. - (2014). (Intervento presentato al convegno XXII Congresso SIPF - SOCIETÀ ITALIANA DI PSICOFISIOLOGIA tenutosi a Firenze nel 27-29 novembre 2014).
Prefronto-cerebellar tDCS improves cognition in euthymic bipolar patients: preliminary neuropsychological and neurophysiological (P300) findings
MANNARELLI, DANIELA;BERSANI, FRANCESCO SAVERIO;PAULETTI, CATERINA;MINICHINO, AMEDEO;DE LUCIA, MARIA CATERINA;BIONDI, Massimo;DELLE CHIAIE, ROBERTO;FATTAPPOSTA, FRANCESCO
2014
Abstract
Bipolar Disorder Type I (BDI) and Bipolar Disorder Type II (BDII) are chronic and disabling conditions characterized by manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes. Cognitive disturbances seem to affect both the subtypes of BD, specifically in frontal executive functioning and verbal learning working memory. The aim of the current study was to verify whether the transcranial tDCS applied to cerebellar and prefrontal cortices could improve the cognitive functioning of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder or not, and assess the variation of the cognitive functioning and the global information processing stream through neuropsychological, neurophysiological and neurological measures. 25 BD outpatients underwent prefrontal (anodal) and cerebellar (cathodal) tDCS for 3 consecutive weeks. All participants were clinically assessed through neuropsychological and neurophysiological (P300) examinations at baseline and after tDCS therapy. Neuropsychological tests in the domains of visuo-spatial memory and attention improved significantly (p<0.05) or showed a favourable statistical trend (p<0.07) after the treatment. The patients who had worse baseline cognitive performances showed a more relevant improvement in all the neuropsychological domains investigated. After tDCS treatment the P3b component revealed a significant higher amplitude and shorter latency (Latency: Fz p=0.02, Cz p=0.03, Pz p=0.04; Amplitude: Fz p=0.24, Cz p=0.02, Pz p=0.35). In our study, prefrontal-excitatory and cerebellar-inhibitory stimulations lead to better global cognitive performances quantified through neuropsychological, neurophysiological and neurological assessments. This improvement could result from the normalization of prefrontal-talamic-cerebellum circuit activity pattern, that has been proven to be altered in BD. Prefronto-cerebellar tDCS may represent a useful therapeutic tools to increase the efficiency of standard treatment used for BD.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
