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Neuroprogression in bipolar disorder: why right is wrong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2024

Eduard Vieta Open the ORCID record for Eduard Vieta [Opens in a new window]
Eduard Vieta*
Affiliation:
Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), c. Casanova, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Hospìtal Clinic de Barcelona. c. Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), c. Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), Barcelona, Spain Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
*
Corresponding author: Eduard Vieta; Email: evieta@clinic.cat
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Abstract

The controversy on whether bipolar disorder is a neurodevelopmental versus a neuroprogressive illness is still around, despite some reductionistic claims that only one model is right. The current diagnostic classifications are not helpful to address this issue, and there is conflicting evidence in favor and against either model. In practice, though, understanding that many patients may show a progressive cognitive and functional decline which may be correlated with the number and severity of episodes may lead to better outcomes through early intervention strategies.

Keywords

bipolar disorderneuroprogression

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Type
Invited Commentary
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 54 , Issue 10 , July 2024 , pp. 2344 - 2346
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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