Journal of International Psychiatry

Objective To explore the effect of serum homocysteine(Hcy) level and cognitive function in female patients with manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Methods A total of 101 female patients with manic episodes of bipolar disorder were enrolled. Serum level of Hcy was measured by enzymatic cycling assay. Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale was used to assess the severity of clinical symptoms of patients. Cognitive function was assessed by the Battery of Computerized Cognitive Test. The relationship between serum Hcy level and cognitive function was analyzed by correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results Serum Hcy levels((17.64±11.18)μmol/L) were negatively correlated with the trail making test (37.22±15.50)(r=-0.251，P=0.011)and Stroop Color Words (27.78±16.50)(r=-0.221,P=0.027) in patients with bipolar disorder. After stratified by age, the serum Hcy level of patients aged 18-30 years old was negatively correlated with trail making test (r = -0.335, P = 0.020), symbol retrieval (r = -0.287, P = 0.048), spatial span (anterograde) (r = -0.407, P = 0.004) and Stroop Color Words (r = -0.301, P = 0.038). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that serum Hcy level was the influencing factor of the trail making test(β=-0.251,t=-2.579,P=0.011)and Stroop Color Words (β=-0.221,t=-2.250,P=0.027). Conclusion Serum Hcy level may influence information processing speed and execution suppression function in female patients with manic episodes of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder; Homocysteine; Cognition