IQ patterns in affective disorder, lateralized and diffuse brain damage.

Meta-analysis of 38 studies compared Wechsler IQ scores in affective disorder (A), lateralized right (RH), left (LH) and bilateral/diffuse (BI) brain damage. A, RH, and BI had lower PIQ than VIQ. In A and BI groups the PIQ/VIQ ratio was identical, whereas each differed significantly from the RH group which revealed a much lower PIQ/VIQ ratio. Similarity of neuropsychological profiles of A and RH patients is often interpreted as indicating predominant right-hemisphere involvement in affective disorder. The present findings suggest an alternative interpretation is possible: i.e., the presence of bilateral/diffuse CNS involvement in affective disorder. We do not believe that our findings strongly support one interpretation over the other. In future research, both possibilities should be considered.