Working Memory, Processing Speed, and IQ in Youth with Mood Disorders and Psychotic Features

James B McCarthy, Kristin T Se

Abstract

The presence of psychotic symptoms is relatively common in severe manifestations of Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), but their occurrence and their effect on cognitive functioning in children and adolescents remain under-investigated areas of research. This brief report summarizes a study with child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients indicating that the presence of psychotic features with pediatric mood disorders adversely affects working memory and overall cognitive functioning ability.