Toward More Homogenous Subgroups in Bipolar Disorder: The Hypothesized Role of Individual Differences in Resistance to the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Neurocognitive Performance

Date of Award

5-31-2016

Document Type

Undergraduate Capstone Project

Degree Name

Psy.D.

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Artur Poczwardowski

Second Advisor

Peter Buirski

Third Advisor

Karen McAvoy

Keywords

Bipolar disorder, Neuropsychology, Individual differences, Sleep deprivation, PER3

Abstract

This report presents the case of a 24-year-old male who was seen for neuropsychological evaluation in the context of a recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD). He presented for evaluation after three days of total sleep deprivation, yet his neurocognitive performances were inconsistent with the available literature on expected performance in the context of sleep deprivation. The current case study provides an interesting framework within which to consider the inclusion of differential vulnerability to the effects of sleep deprivation as a variable that may account for some of the heterogeneity of the cognitive profile of BD when using group statistics to inform interpretation of results at the level of the individual. To establish a context for the argument presented, a brief review of the most frequently studied variables that were taken into account in interpreting the results of BW’s neuropsychological evaluation is provided. We outline evidence from the existing literature on differential vulnerability to the effects of sleep deprivation in healthy controls, as well evidence from research on polymorphisms in the PERIOD3 (PER3) gene which has been implicated in both vulnerability to sleep deprivation and BD separately; it is hypothesized that research in this area may contribute to a better understanding of and reduction in the heterogeneity of the cognitive profile of BD.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Extent

28 pages

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