Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the ability of the brain to cope with damage or pathology. In bipolar disorder (BD), it has been seen that the effects of the disease may potentially reduce CR, thus compromising cognitive outcomes. This concept takes on special relevance in late life in BD, due to the increased risk of cognitive decline because of the accumulative effects of the disease and the potential effects of aging. Therefore, we believe that CR may be a protective factor against cognitive decline in older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD).

The aim of this study was to study the CR in OABD compared with healthy controls (HC) and to analyze its association with psychosocial functioning and cognitive performance.

A sample of euthymic OABD, defined as patients over 50 years old, and HC were included. CR was assessed using the CRASH scale. Differences in demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables between patients and HC were analyzed by t-test or X2 as appropriated. Lineal simple and multiple regressions analyses were used to study the association of CR and several clinical variables with functional and cognitive performance.

A total of 83 participants (42 OABD and 41 HC) were included. Compared to HC, OABD exhibited poorer cognitive performance (p<0.001), psychosocial functioning (p<0.001) and lower CR (p<0.001). Within the patient’s group, the linear simple regression analysis revealed that CR was associated with psychosocial functioning (β=-2.16; p=0.037), attention (β= 3.03; p=0.005) and working memory (β = 2.98; p=0.005) while no clinical factors were associated. Age and CR were associated with processing speed and verbal memory, but after applying multiple regression model, only the effect of age remained significant (β =-2.26; p= 0.030, and β =-2.23; p= 0.032 respectively). CR, age, and number of episodes were related to visual memory, but the multiple regression showed that only age (β = -2.37; p= 0.023) and CR (β = 3.99; p<0.001) were associated. Regarding executive functions only the number of manic episodes were significant. CR and age at onset were associated with visuospatial ability, but multiple regression only showed association of CR (β =2.23; p=0.032). Other clinical factors such as number of depressive or hypomanic episodes, illness duration, admissions, type of BD, and psychotic symptoms were not associated.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that studies the CR in a sample of OABD. We demonstrated that OABD had lower CR than HC. Importantly, we observed that CR was associated with cognitive and psychosocial functioning in OABD, even more than disease-related factors. These results suggest the potential protector effect of CR against cognitive impairment, supporting that improving modifiable factors associated with the enhancement of CR can prevent cognitive decline.

L. Montejo: None Declared, C. Torrent Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI20/00344) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIII-Subdireccion General de Evaluacio ́n and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), S. Martín: None Declared, A. Ruiz: None Declared, M. Bort: None Declared, G. Fico Grant / Research support from: Fellowship from “La Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434 - fellowship code LCF/BQ/DR21/11880019), V. Oliva: None Declared, M. De Prisco: None Declared, J. Sanchez-Moreno Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI20/00060) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIII-Subdireccion General de Evaluacio ́n and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER),, E. Jimenez Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI20/00060)integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIII-Subdireccion General de Evaluacio ́n and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER),, A. Martinez-Aran: None Declared, E. Vieta Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI18/ 00805, PI21/00787) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and cofinanced by the ISCIIISubdireccio ́n General de Evaluacio ́n and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); the Instituto de Salud Carlos III; the CIBER of Mental Health (CIBERSAM); the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement (2017 SGR 1365), the CERCA Programme, and the Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya for the PERIS grant SLT006/17/00357; the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (EU.3.1.1. Understanding health, wellbeing and disease: Grant No 754907 and EU.3.1.3. Treating and managing disease: Grant No 945151)., B. Sole: None Declared

In recent years, research has focused on the older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD), aged 50 years and over, a constantly growing population due to the increased of life expectancy. Actually, some authors suggest that these individuals constitute a distinct subtype with a specific and different needs such as seen in epidemiologic, clinical and cognitive features. Further research has revealed significant differences between females and males with BD in clinical and cognitive variables in middle-aged and young patients, but this topic among OABD population remains unclear.

The aim of this study is to identify the distinctive profile in clinical, functional and neurocognitive variables between females and males in OABD.

A sample of OABD and Healthy Controls (HC) were included. Euthymic patients or in partial remission were included. Neurocognition was measured with a battery of tests that included premorbid intelligence quotient, working memory, verbal and visual memory, processing speed, language and executive functions. Independent t-test and Chi-squared test analysis were performed as appropriated.

According to the analysis, statistically significant differences were seen between females and males. A more impaired cognitive profile is observed in women. They performed worse in the subscales of Arithmetic (F= 6.728, p = <0.001), forward digits (F= 0.936, p= 0.019) and Total Digits (F= 1.208, p= 0.019) of the WAIS-III, in the Stroop Color Word Test, color reading (F= 0.130, p= < 0.001), in the Continuous Performance Test, block change measure (F= 2.059, p= 0.037), in the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure-copy (F= 0.005, p= 0.029) and in the Boston Naming Test (F= 0.011, p= 0.024). Nor significant differences were found in clinical neither in psychosocial functioning variables.

In view of the following results, and since no differences were observed between women and men in terms of clinical and functional outcomes, it could be said that the differences observed in cognition cannot be explained by disease-related factors. Furthermore, these results highlight the need to develop a gender-specific cognitive interventions in OABD population. In this way, we could have an impact on the course of the illness to reach a better quality of life.

S. Martín-Parra: None Declared, C. Torrent Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI20/00344) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIIISubdireccion General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), A. Ruiz: None Declared, M. Bort: None Declared, G. Fico Grant / Research support from: Fellowship from “La Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434 - fellowship code LCF/BQ/DR21/11880019), V. Oliva: None Declared, M. Prisco: None Declared, J. Sanchez-Moreno Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI20/00060) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIII-Subdireccion General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), E. Jimenez Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI20/00060) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIII-Subdireccion General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), A. Martinez-Aran: None Declared, E. Vieta Grant / Research support from: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI18/ 00805, PI21/00787) integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and cofinanced by the ISCIII Subdirección General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); the Instituto de Salud Carlos III; the CIBER of Mental Health (CIBERSAM); the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement (2017 SGR 1365), the CERCA Programme, and the Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya for the PERIS grant SLT006/17/00357; the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (EU.3.1.1. Understanding health, wellbeing and disease: Grant No 754907 and EU.3.1.3. Treating and managing disease: Grant No 945151), B. Sole: None Declared, L. Montejo: None Declared

About the term cognitive-behavioral minority disease or rare disease are a group of diseases that affect between 6-8% of the populatio. It is estimated that there are more than 7000 in the world, the majority with a genetic basis and affect various organs and systems, they also present psychiactric comorbidities and cause a physical or mental disability. Given its definition, it is difficult to see a large number of these patients in our usual clinical activity, so their management can be complicated.

To evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity and the prevalence of psyhcopharmacological treatment in children and adolescents whe present a minority disease.

This is a descriptive, controlled, retrospective cross-sectional study of a sample obtained by non-probabilistic sampling, which is representative of the study population.

The statistical analysis was made using the statistical program SPSS V22 (2013).

With a sample of 114 patients, of which 26,6% presented fragile X syndrome, secondly 25,3% presented Prader-Willi Syndrome and 48,1% other chromosomal abnormalities.

By subgroups (male:female): in Prader-Willi syndrome 6:14 (30%:70%), in Fragile X syndrome 12:9 (57,14%: 42,86%) and in other diseases 25:13 (75,69%: 34,21%).

The creation of clinical expert units makes the possibility to increase knowledge of diseases whose prevalence in the population, thanks to technological advances, is increasing and where scientific knowledge is still limited.

These units are also important, in order to be able to offer personalized intensive treatments in order to reduce polypharmacy. There is not a great difference between the minority diagnosis and polypharmacy, although there is less polypharmacy than expected, which may be the result of the success of the most intensive and personal psychotherapeutic intervention in the unit.

None Declared

Psychiatric disorders are more prevalent in children with mild (MID) to borderline intellectual functioning (BIF). Rare pathogenic variants in neurodevelopmental genes increase the risk for psychiatric disorders and may explain the comorbidity. Despite these patients represent up to 35% of those attended at mental health services, genetic diagnosis is usually not offered. The identification of mentioned variants could lead to improved clinical care.

To identify pathogenic variants responsible of the psychiatric disorders in mild and borderline intellectual functioning.

To correlate phenotypic and genetic profiles to personalize diagnostic, clinical care and support to clinicians and families.

Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on 99 enrolled children/adolescent (6-18 yo) affected by a psychiatric condition diagnosed following DSM-5 criteria, and either MID (IQ 55-69) or BIF (IQ 70-85). Severity and interference of IQ and psychiatric comorbidity was evaluated using several psychometric tests (Conners, CDI, STAIC, CAARMS, CBCL and hONOSCA). Inheritance pattern was assessed through Sanger sequencing. ACMG/AMP guidelines were used for variant classification.

In our cohort, 64% patients presented BIF and 36% MID. 45% of the patients had 2 or more psychiatric diagnoses, the most prevalent (87%) being attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and, in second place, autism spectrum disorder (51%).

WES identified pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 30% of analyzed patients (30/99), 80% of the variants were de novo. There is no significant difference in patient severity between those with a genetic diagnosis and those without.

Rare deleterious and de novo variants in neurodevelopmental genes are responsible for the comorbidity that exists between psychiatric disorders and mild/borderline intellectual disability.

The high diagnostic yield obtained from our exome sequencing approach demonstrates the need to offer genetic testing in children with psychiatric disorders and comorbid mild to borderline intellectual functioning.

Finally, patients being identified with a genetic diagnosis are subsequently attended in a specialised unit for rare disorders to receive personalised clinical management.

None Declared

Bipolar disorder (BD) represents one of the most therapeutically complex psychiatric disorders. The development of a feasible comprehensive psychological approach to complement pharmacotherapy to improve its clinical management is required. The main objective of the present randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to test the efficacy of a novel adjunctive treatment entitled integrative approach in patients with BD, including: psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and functional remediation.

This is a parallel two-armed, rater-blind RCT of an integrative approach plus treatment as usual (TAU), v. TAU alone. Participants were recruited at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and randomized to one of the two conditions. They were assessed at baseline and after finishing the intervention. The main outcome variable included changes in psychosocial functioning assessed through the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST).

After finishing the treatment, the repeated-measures analyses revealed a significant group × time interaction in favor of the patients who received the integrative approach (n = 28) compared to the TAU group (n = 37) (Pillai's trace = 0.10; F(1,57) = 6.9; p = 0.01), improving the functional outcome. Significant effects were also found in two out of the six domains of the FAST, including the cognitive domain (Pillai's trace = 0.25; F(1,57) = 19.1; p < 0.001) and leisure time (Pillai's trace = 0.11; F(1,57) = 7.15; p = 0.01). Regarding the secondary outcomes, a significant group × time interaction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale changes was detected (Pillai's trace = 0.08; F(1,62) = 5.6; p = 0.02).

This preliminary study suggests that the integrative approach represents a promising cost-effective therapy to improve psychosocial functioning and residual depressive symptoms in patients suffering from BD.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with social cognition (SC) impairments even during remission periods although a large heterogeneity has been described. Our aim was to explore the existence of different profiles on SC in euthymic patients with BD, and further explore the potential impact of distinct variables on SC.

Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted using three SC domains [Theory of Mind (ToM), Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Attributional Bias (AB)]. The sample comprised of 131 individuals, 71 patients with BD and 60 healthy control subjects who were compared in terms of SC performance, demographic, clinical, and neurocognitive variables. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the effect of SC-associated risk factors.

A two-cluster solution was identified with an adjusted-performance group (N = 48, 67.6%) and a low-performance group (N = 23, 32.4%) with mild deficits in ToM and AB domains and with moderate difficulties in EI. Patients with low SC performance were mostly males, showed lower estimated IQ, higher subthreshold depressive symptoms, longer illness duration, and poorer visual memory and attention. Low estimated IQ (OR 0.920, 95% CI 0.863–0.981), male gender (OR 5.661, 95% CI 1.473–21.762), and longer illness duration (OR 1.085, 95% CI 1.006–1.171) contributed the most to the patients clustering. The model explained up to 35% of the variance in SC performance.

Our results confirmed the existence of two discrete profiles of SC among BD. Nearly two-thirds of patients exhibited adjusted social cognitive abilities. Longer illness duration, male gender, and lower estimated IQ were associated with low SC performance.

Improving functioning in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the main objectives in clinical practice. Of the few psychosocial interventions that have been specifically developed to enhance the psychosocial outcome in BD, functional remediation (FR) is one which has demonstrated efficacy. The aim of this study was to examine which variables could predict improved functional outcome following the FR intervention in a sample of euthymic or subsyndromal patients with BD.

A total of 92 euthymic outpatients were included in this longitudinal study, with 62 completers. Partial correlations controlling for the functional outcome at baseline were calculated between demographic, clinical and neurocognitive variables, and functional outcome at endpoint was assessed by means of the Functioning Assessment Short Test scale. Next, a multiple regression analysis was run in order to identify potential predictors of functional outcome at 2-year follow-up, using the variables found to be statistically significant in the correlation analysis and other variables related to functioning as identified in the previous scientific literature.

The regression model revealed that only two independent variables significantly contributed to the model (F(6,53): 4.003; p = 0.002), namely verbal memory and inhibitory control. The model accounted for 31.2% of the variance. No other demographic or clinical variable contributed to the model.

Results suggest that patients with better cognitive performance at baseline, especially in terms of verbal memory and executive functions, may present better functional outcomes at long term follow-up after receiving functional remediation.

Obesity and its related disorders are growing epidemic across the world. As some forms of abnormal temperament are considered as subtype of the soft bipolar spectrum, we aimed to evaluate abnormal temperaments in morbid obese patients.

Using a short version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego, we investigated abnormal depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable or anxious temperament in 213 patients with morbid obesity compared to a control group of 90 patients admitted prior to transplantation. Additionally, the Beck-Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Self-Report Manic Inventory (SRMI) were applied to assess the current mood states.

The obese group showed statistically significant more psychiatric comorbidities compared to the control group. Abnormal temperaments were significantly more often observed in patients with morbid obesity rather than in controls. Cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments showed specificity to obesity. Obese patients had significantly higher scores in BDI, while no difference for SRMI scores was registered among the whole groups. All temperaments were positively correlated with BDI and SRMI in the obese group.

Our results need replication but indicate an affective overlap in form of abnormal temperament and depressive symptoms in obese patients, whereas mood swings should be evaluated and early mood stabilization considered for patients with significant weight gain to prevent obesity or to reduce already existing overweight. Studies of mood stabilizers and prospective observations would shed further insight on this complex interface of a major clinical and public health issue.

Recent studies have suggested that functional impairment in bipolar disorder may be strongly associated with residual depressive symptoms. However, there is a notable disparity between functional recovery and symptomatic recovery. This study was carried out to investigate clinical factors as potential predictors on functional impairment in a well defined euthymic bipolar sample.

Seventy-one patients were recruited from the Bipolar Disorder Program at the Clinic Hospital of Barcelona. A Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR, HAM-D and YMRS were used to diagnostic assessment and euthymia criteria. The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was employed to assess functional impairment. The FAST is a reliable and valid, interview-administered scale, rapid and easy to apply (3-6 min). It consists of 24 items which allow to assess six specific areas of functioning such as autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning, financial issues, interpersonal relationships, and leisure time.

The sample comprised 36 (51%) men, aged 48±13.56 years. Several clinical variables were associated with poor functioning on a linear regression model, such as age, depressive symptoms, number of previous mixed episodes and number of previous hospitalizations. This model explained 44% of the variance (F=12.54, df=58, p< 0.001).

In this study, specific clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were identified as predictors of functional impairment in remitted bipolar patients. Poor functioning was identified in patients with older age and more severe illness course.

There are various physical, functional, psychological and social factors associated with the appearance of mental symptoms in the elderly. Our objective was to determine the relationship and influence of these different variables in the psychiatric symptomatology of the elderly who reside in the community.

Cross-sectional study of a sample of 324 patients over 65 years, representative of the elderly who reside in the community in the province of Huesca (Spain). Symptoms of depression (Yesavage GDS), cognitive impairment (MMSE), anxiety (GADS), psychotic symptoms, obsessive symptoms and hypochondriacal ideas (GMS) were measured. Social-demographic, physical and somatic, functional and social data were evaluated. Analysis was carried out in 3 phases: univariate, bivariate and multivariate with logistic regression.

At the time of the study, 46.1% of the elderly studied suffered from some psychiatric symptom. 16.4% had cognitive impairment, 15.7% anxiety, 14.3% depression, 6.1% hallucinations and delusions, 7.2% hypochondriacal ideas and 4.4% obsessive symptoms. Female gender was significantly associated with depression (PR: 3.3) and anxiety (PR: 3.9). Age was a factor associated with cognitive impairment (PR: 4.4). Depression was significantly related to severity of the physical illness (PR: 61.7 in extremely severe impairment). Solitude (PR: 16.3) and being single (PR: 13.4) were factors which were strongly associated with anxiety; living in residences was associated with psychotic symptoms (PR: 7.6).

Severity of physical illness, solitude, living in residences and female gender, among others, are related with psychiatric symptoms in community-residing elderly persons.

Non-specific chronic low back pain is one of common causes of disability and a recurrent medical complaint with high costs. From rehabilitative medicine, physiotherapy programs and general postural recommendations are offered. Although this treatment is aimed to reduce disability, severity of pain and anxiety-depressive symptoms, many patients report partial improvements and recurrence of pain. Therefore, a new approach to treat this pathology with a broaden focus on psychososocial issues that might modulate pain and its evolution is required.

To assess the effectiveness of two complementary interventions to physiotherapy, such as relaxation techniques (specifically, sophrology) and cognitive behavioral intervention. It is hypothesized that intervention groups will significantly improve their adherence to physiotherapy and will gain control over their pain. Ultimately, this will foster better quality of life.

Longitudinal design with pre-post intervention measures and follow-up appointments (at 6 and 12 months) carried out in a sample of 66 participants. The sample will be divided into three groups: control (physiotherapy), intervention group 1 (physiotherapy & sophrology) and intervention group 2 (physiotherapy & cognitive behavioral intervention). In all groups biomedical aspects regarding type, evolution and characterization of pain as well as several psychosocial factors will be assessed.

Preliminary results are expected by December 2013.

If hypotheses are confirmed, we will be able to provide empirical evidences to justify a multidisciplinary care model for chronic low back pain, which will favor a significant cost reduction in terms of health care and human suffering.

Two common approaches to identify subgroups of patients with bipolar disorder are clustering methodology (mixture analysis) based on the age of onset, and a birth cohort analysis. This study investigates if a birth cohort effect will influence the results of clustering on the age of onset, using a large, international database.

The database includes 4037 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, previously collected at 36 collection sites in 23 countries. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to adjust the data for country median age, and in some models, birth cohort. Model-based clustering (mixture analysis) was then performed on the age of onset data using the residuals. Clinical variables in subgroups were compared.

There was a strong birth cohort effect. Without adjusting for the birth cohort, three subgroups were found by clustering. After adjusting for the birth cohort or when considering only those born after 1959, two subgroups were found. With results of either two or three subgroups, the youngest subgroup was more likely to have a family history of mood disorders and a first episode with depressed polarity. However, without adjusting for birth cohort (three subgroups), family history and polarity of the first episode could not be distinguished between the middle and oldest subgroups.

These results using international data confirm prior findings using single country data, that there are subgroups of bipolar I disorder based on the age of onset, and that there is a birth cohort effect. Including the birth cohort adjustment altered the number and characteristics of subgroups detected when clustering by age of onset. Further investigation is needed to determine if combining both approaches will identify subgroups that are more useful for research.

Recently, Functional Remediation (FR) has proven to be effective in improving the functional outcome of euthymic bipolar patients.

Our objective was to test the efficacy of FR programme in a subsample of euthymic bipolar II patients (BPII).

The main aim was improve the functional outcome in these patients.

Post-hoc analyses were undertaken using data of 53 DSM-IV diagnosed BPII outpatients who had participated in a multicentre, rater blind, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) exploring the efficacy of FR (n=17) as compared with a Psychoeducation (PSY) (n=19) and a control (n=17) groups which only treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome variable was a functional improvement measured as the mean change in the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) from baseline to endpoint after intervention.

Data revealed a significant functional improvement from baseline to endpoint (Pillai's Trace =0.164; F =3.619; p =0.037), suggestive for an interaction between program pertinence and time (pre-post). Nevertheless, Tukey's post-hoc test only revealed a trend in favour of a better outcome for FR when compared to the TAU (p =0.058) and to the PSY group (p =0.062). We also found an interaction between program pertinence and time when analysing the subdepressive symptoms (Pillai's Trace =0.157; F =3.635; p =0.036), so that patients in FR showed a significant reduction in subdepressive symptomatology when compared to the PSY group (p= 0.041).

The FR program appears to be effective in improving the overall functional outcome in BPII patients, as well as in reducing subdepressive symptoms.

Most studies selected euthymic patients with bipolar disorder in inter-episodic phase according to clinical remission criteria at least between 1 and 6 months. However, possible differences can exist in the course of clinical symptoms in bipolar patients related to the duration of clinical remission.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical status of bipolar patients after 6 months of clinical remission.

We performed a cross-sectional study of bipolar outpatients in clinical remission for at least 6 months. Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS), Young Mania Rating scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale, Visual Analogic Scales (VAS) evaluated cognitive impairment were used to assess residual symptomatology of patients. Multivariate analysis (MANCOVA) was conducted for analysing possible differences between 3 groups of patients according to their duration of clinical remission (< 6 months–1 year, < 1 year–3 years, < 3 years–5 years).

A total of 525 patients were included into the study. The multivariate analysis indicated a significant effect of the duration of clinical remission on the different residual symptoms (Pillai's trace: F 4.48, P < 0.001). The duration of clinical remission was associated with the significant improvement of the BDRS total score (P = 0.013), the PSQI total score (P < 0.001) and the cognitive VAS total score (P < 0.001)

These results support a possible improvement of residual symptoms according to the duration of clinical remission in bipolar patients. Any definition of euthymia should specify the duration criteria.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Cognitive reserve (CR) reflects the capacity of the brain to endure neuropathology, minimize clinical manifestations and successfully complete cognitive tasks. The present study aims to determine whether high CR may constitute a moderator of cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder (BD).

One hundred and two patients with BD and 32 healthy controls were enrolled. All patients met DSM-IV criteria for I or II BD and were euthymic (YMRS ≤ 6 and HDRS ≤ 8) during a 6-month period. All participants were tested with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and a Cerebral Reserve Score (CRS) was estimated. Subjects with a CRS below the group median were classified as having low CR, whereas participants with a CRS above the median value were considered to have high CR.

Participants with BD with high CR displayed a better performance in measures of attention (digits forward: F = 4.554, P = 0.039); phonemic and semantic verbal fluency (FAS: F = 9.328, P = 0.004; and Animal Naming: F = 8.532, P = 0.006); and verbal memory (short cued recall of California Verbal Learning Test: F = 4.236, P = 0.046), after multivariable adjustment for potential confounders, including number of admissions and prior psychotic symptoms.

High cognitive reserve may therefore be a valuable construct to explore for predicting neurocognitive performance in patients with BD regarding premorbid status.

Dr. I. Grande has received a Juan Rodés Contract (JR15/00012), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness, Barcelona, Spain and has served as a consultant for Ferrer and as a speaker for AstraZeneca, Ferrer and Janssen-Cilag.

Dr. I. Grande has received a Juan Rodés Contract (JR15/00012), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness, Barcelona, Spain and has served as a consultant for Ferrer and as a speaker for AstraZeneca, Ferrer and Janssen-Cilag.

Patients with chronic depression (CD) by definition respond less well to standard forms of psychotherapy and are more likely to be high utilizers of psychiatric resources. Therefore, the aim of this guidance paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of current psychotherapy for CD. The evidence of efficacy is critically reviewed and recommendations for clinical applications and research are given.

We performed a systematic literature search to identify studies on psychotherapy in CD, evaluated the retrieved documents and developed evidence tables and recommendations through a consensus process among experts and stakeholders.

We developed 5 recommendations which may help providers to select psychotherapeutic treatment options for this patient group. The EPA considers both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy to be effective in CD and recommends both approaches. The best effect is achieved by combined treatment with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, which should therefore be the treatment of choice. The EPA recommends psychotherapy with an interpersonal focus (e.g. the Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy [CBASP]) for the treatment of CD and a personalized approach based on the patient's preferences.

The DSM-5 nomenclature of persistent depressive disorder (PDD), which includes CD subtypes, has been an important step towards a more differentiated treatment and understanding of these complex affective disorders. Apart from dysthymia, ICD-10 still does not provide a separate entity for a chronic course of depression. The differences between patients with acute episodic depression and those with CD need to be considered in the planning of treatment. Specific psychotherapeutic treatment options are recommended for patients with CD.

Patients with chronic forms of depression should be offered tailored psychotherapeutic treatments that address their specific needs and deficits. Combination treatment with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is the first-line treatment recommended for CD. More research is needed to develop more effective treatments for CD, especially in the longer term, and to identify which patients benefit from which treatment algorithm.