Impact of Anticholinergic Burden on Cognitive Functions in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Schizophrenia
Nilgun Oktar Erdogan, Bengu Yucens, Selim Tumkaya
Department of Psychiatry, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Türkiye
Correspondence to: Nilgun Oktar Erdogan
Department of Psychiatry, Pamukkale University, Kınıklı Mahallesi, Üniversite Caddesi, Denizli 20160, Türkiye
E-mail: oktarnilgun@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5395-0542
Received: March 5, 2024; Revised: May 16, 2024; Accepted: June 16, 2024; Published online: October 10, 2024.
© The Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology. All rights reserved.

This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD), schizoaffective disorder (SAD), and schizophrenia (SCH) are psychiatric disorders characterized by persistent cognitive impairments, even during periods of remission. Psychotropic medications commonly used to manage these conditions have anticholinergic properties, which may contribute to cognitive impairment.
Methods: This study examined the relationship between anticholinergic medication burden and cognitive function in individuals diagnosed with BD, SAD, and SCH. Anticholinergic burden was assessed using two validated scales, the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale (ACB) and the CRIDECO Anticholinergic Load Scale (CALS). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Digit Span and the Öktem Verbal Memory Process Test. Retrospective data analysis was conducted to examine the association between anticholinergic medication burden and cognitive performance.
Results: The study included 132 participants including individuals with BD (n = 45), SAD (n = 29), and SCH (n = 58). Higher scores on the ACB and CALS scales were associated with impairments in working memory and immediate memory in the BD group. Similarly, increased anticholinergic burden was associated with immediate memory deficits in the SCH group. However, no significant association was found in the SAD group despite a higher anticholinergic burden.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the impact of anticholinergic burden on neurocognitive function in individuals with severe psychiatric disorders. The association between anticholinergic burden and cognitive impairment extends beyond SCH spectrum disorders to include BD. These findings underscore the importance of considering anticholinergic burden in psychiatric treatment strategies and call for further research with larger samples to better understand cognitive consequences and refine prescribing practices.
Keywords: Cognition; Cholinergic antagonists; Psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder


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