Systematic review of randomized controlled trials of candidate treatments for cognitive impairment in depression and methodological challenges in the field

Assessing and addressing cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder: the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Targeting Cognition Task Force recommendations for clinicians

“…It may be argued that clinicians should not screen for something if they do not have management options for the condition. While there are several promising candidate cognition treatments currently under evaluation, we currently do not have any clinically available treatment with direct pro‐cognitive effects although one trial recently revealed cognitive benefits of intensive computerised cognitive remediation (CR) . Nevertheless, cognitive screening assessments can still improve the clinical management of BD in three important ways.…”

Prevalence of cognitive impairment in major depression and bipolar disorder

“…This has important implications for treatment and for screening for inclusion in studies that aim to improve cognitive function. Inclusion of a number of depressed individuals with unimpaired cognitive function may wash out any positive effect and result in failed trials . Screening has recently been recommended by a task force of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders .…”

The catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype modulates working memory‐related dorsolateral prefrontal response and performance in bipolar disorder

“…Thus, an increase of synaptic DA levels can create manic phenotypes (eg, ). Conversely, psychotropics that cause DA depletion can induce a depressed state (eg, ), whereas the DA agonist pramipexole attenuates depressive symptoms in depressed BD patients . The relationship between DA activity in the PFC and cognitive performance has been described as an inverted U‐shape, in which both high and low cortical DA tonus is associated with cognitive impairments .…”