Abstract
BACKGROUND: Memory is one of the most affected cognitive domains in patients with Bipolar I Disorder, even during periods of euthymia. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between certain clinical and demographic variables and the domains of memory function in euthymic bipolar I patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 100 patients who were confirmed to be euthymic at the time of the research, as indicated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores (HDRS <7) and Young Mania Rating Scale scores (YMRS <12). Recruitment was conducted between March 2021 and March 2022. Their demographic data were collected, and all participants were evaluated for psychiatric comorbidities using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5-CV). Memory function was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale-3rd edition (WMS-3). The correlation between memory function and demographic and clinical variables was analyzed. RESULTS: The Wechsler Memory Scale total score was significantly associated with the number of hospitalizations, education level, and the number of depressive episodes. Notably, each additional hospitalization (β = -21.70 ± 8.18) and depressive episode (β = -23.36 ± 6.86) corresponded to a marked reduction in memory performance. The regression model demonstrated a robust fit, with an R-square value of 0.68. CONCLUSION: Memory function is significantly correlated with the number of hospitalizations, level of education, and the number of previous depressive episodes in euthymic Bipolar I patients. This study underscores the importance of these factors in understanding and preventing memory impairment in this patient group.