Background

Youth with bipolar disorder (BD) and offspring of individuals with BD (BD-OFF) are characterized by higher levels of impulsive and overt aggression. The cognitive basis underlying these aggressive behaviors are not clarified in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive alterations and aggressive behavior in youth with BD and BD-OFF.

Methods

Forty-two youth with BD, 17 BD-OFF and 57 healthy controls (HCs) were administered the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS), the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Children's Depression Rating Scale (CDRS). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed in the three groups separately. In each group, tests scores from the CANTAB were predictors. MOAS subscale scores and MOAS total scores were dependent variables. Results are corrected for age, IQ and mood state.

Results

Both youth with BD and BD-OFF showed positive correlations between impairment in executive functions and levels of verbal aggression. In youth with BD, altered processing of either positive and negative stimuli positively correlated with MOAS total scores, whereas in BD-OFF, such relationship was negative.

Conclusions

Impulsive aggressive behaviors in youth with BD arise from a combination of altered affective processing and executive dysfunction. The negative relationship between affective processing and aggression in BD-OFF suggested the presence of possible mechanisms of resilience in this population.

中文翻译：

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小儿双相情感障碍和双相后代的年轻人冲动攻击的认知相关性

背景

患有双相情感障碍（BD）的青年和患有BD的个体的后代（BD-OFF）的特征是冲动性和公开攻击性较高。这些人群的攻击行为的认知基础尚不清楚。这项研究的目的是调查与BD和BD-OFF青年有关的认知改变和攻击行为之间的关系。

方法

对42名患有BD的青年，17名BD-OFF和57名健康对照（HCs）进行了改良的公开攻击量表（MOAS），剑桥神经心理测验自动量表（CANTAB），年轻躁狂症评定量表（YMRS）和儿童抑郁等级量表（CDRS）。三组分别进行了多元线性回归分析。在每个组中，CANTAB的考试成绩都是预测因素。MOAS子量表得分和MOAS总得分是因变量。结果会针对年龄，智商和情绪状态进行校正。

结果

患有BD和BD-OFF的年轻人均在执行功能障碍和言语攻击水平之间呈正相关。在患有BD的年轻人中，正刺激和负刺激的改变处理与MOAS总得分呈正相关，而在BD-OFF中，这种关系为负。

结论

患有BD的年轻人的冲动性攻击行为是由情感处理和执行功能障碍的改变引起的。BD-OFF中情感处理与攻击之间的负相关关系表明该人群中可能存在复原力的机制。