A randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial evaluating the effect of intranasal insulin on neurocognitive function in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
Abstract
McIntyre RS, Soczynska JK, Woldeyohannes HO, Miranda A, Vaccarino A, MacQueen G, Lewis GF, Kennedy SH. A randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial evaluating the effect of intranasal insulin on neurocognitive function in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 697–706. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background: Neurocognitive deficits are prevalent, persistent, and implicated as mediators of functional impairment in adults with bipolar disorder. Notwithstanding progress in the development of pharmacological treatments for various phases of bipolar disorder, no available treatment has been proven to be reliably efficacious in treating neurocognitive deficits. Emerging evidence indicates that insulin dysregulation may be pertinent to neurocognitive function. In keeping with this view, we tested the hypothesis that intranasal insulin administration would improve measures of neurocognitive performance in euthymic adults with bipolar disorder. Methods: Sixty‐two adults with bipolar I/II disorder (based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0) were randomized to adjunctive intranasal insulin 40 IU q.i.d. (n = 34) or placebo (n = 28) for eight weeks. All subjects were prospectively verified to be euthymic on the basis of a total score of ≤ 3 on the seven‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD‐7) and ≤ 7 on the 11‐item Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. Neurocognitive function and outcome was assessed with a neurocognitive battery. Results: There were no significant between‐group differences in mean age of the subjects {i.e., mean age 40 [standard deviation (SD) = 10.15] years in the insulin and 39 [SD = 10.41] in the placebo groups, respectively}. In the insulin group, n = 27 (79.4%) had bipolar I disorder, while n = 7 (21.6%) had bipolar II disorder. In the placebo group, n = 25 (89.3%) had bipolar I disorder, while n = 3 (10.7%) had bipolar II disorder. All subjects received concomitant medications; medications remained stable during study enrollment. A significant improvement versus placebo was noted with intranasal insulin therapy on executive function (i.e., Trail Making Test–Part B). Time effects were significant for most California Verbal Learning Test indices and the Process Dissociation Task–Habit Estimate, suggesting an improved performance from baseline to endpoint with no between‐group differences. Intranasal insulin was well tolerated; no subject exhibited hypoglycemia or other safety concerns. Conclusions: Adjunctive intranasal insulin administration significantly improved a single measure of executive function in bipolar disorder. We were unable to detect between‐group differences on other neurocognitive measures, with improvement noted in both groups. Subject phenotyping on the basis of pre‐existing neurocognitive deficits and/or genotype [e.g., apolipoprotein E (ApoE)] may possibly identify a more responsive subgroup.
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An RCT among euthymic patients with bipolar disorder documented that individuals treated with intranasal insulin exhibited significant improvements in one measure of executive function, in the absence of improvement across other cognitive domains, compared with a placebo group.
“An RCT among euthymic patients with bipolar disorder documented that individuals treated with intranasal insulin exhibited significant improvements in one measure of executive function (in the absence of improvement across other cognitive domains) compared with a placebo group [114].”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
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- Authors
- McIntyre, R. S., Soczynska, J. K., Woldeyohannes, H. O., Miranda, A., Vaccarino, A., MacQueen, G., Lewis, G. F., & Kennedy, S. H.
- Affiliations
- University Health Network (CA)
- University of Calgary (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- McIntyre, Roger S
- ORCID
- Venue
- Bipolar Disorders
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-10-29
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 697-706
- ISSN
- 1398-5647 (ISSN-L)
- 1399-5618
- OpenAlex
- W1794396397
- Cited by
- 104
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 4.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Bipolar Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Keywords
- intranasal insulin, bipolar disorder, neurocognitive impairment, executive function, insulin resistance, euthymic bipolar patients, Trail Making Test Part B, verbal learning, adjunctive therapy, cognitive impairment treatment, insulin dysregulation, safety and tolerability, hypoglycemia risk, treatment-resistant bipolar disorder, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic drugs
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Bipolar Disorder, Cognition Disorders, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome
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