Neuropsychological instruments for bipolar disorders: A systematic review on psychometric properties

Background: Cognitive deficits are a core feature of bipolar disorder (BD) that persist during the euthymic phase and affect global functioning. However, nowadays, there is no consensus on the optimal tool to capture cognitive deficits in BD. Therefore, this review aims to examine the psychometric properties of tools commonly used to assess cognitive functioning in BD. Methods: Literature search was conducted on PubMed and Web of Science databases on August 1, 2022 and on April 20, 2023, yielding 1758 de-duplicated records. Thirteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results: All tools examined showed acceptable-to-good psychometric properties suggesting that both brief cognitive screeners and comprehensive batteries may be appropriate for detecting or monitoring cognitive changes in BD. Limitations: Methodological differences between the included studies precluded a direct comparison of the results. Further research is needed to investigate the psychometric properties of cognitive tools that assess also affective and social cognition. Conclusions: The tools examined appear sensitive enough to distinguish between BD patients with versus without cognitive deficits, however, an optimal tool has not yet been identified. The applicability and clinical utility of the tools may depend on multiple factors such as available resources. That said, web-based instruments are expected to become the first-choice instrument for cognitive screening as they can be applied on a large scale and at an affordable cost. As for second-level assessment instruments, the BACA shows robust psychometric properties and tests both affective and non-affective cognition.

Automated summary

This review aimed to examine the psychometric properties of commonly used tools for assessing cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder (BD). The results showed that all tools examined had acceptable-to-good psychometric properties, suggesting that both brief cognitive screeners and comprehensive batteries may be appropriate for detecting or monitoring cognitive changes in BD. However, further research is needed to investigate the psychometric properties of tools that assess affective and social cognition.