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Clinical implications of cognitive function in bipolar disorder
C T Sudhir Kumar1, Sophia Frangou
1C. T. Sudhir Kumar, MD, MSc, MRCPsych Section of Neurobiology of Psychosis, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, King's Health Partners, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease
|December 20, 2012
Summary
Cognitive function in bipolar disorder (BD) shows distinct patterns, with enhanced pre-illness cognition potentially being a risk factor. Impairments in information processing, learning, and inhibition are common in established BD and predict functional outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Growing interest in cognitive function in bipolar disorder (BD) for understanding biological mechanisms.
- Cognition is crucial for BD predisposition, disease expression, and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize existing data on cognitive function across the spectrum of bipolar disorder.
- To identify patterns and implications of cognitive changes in BD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and pattern analysis of existing studies on cognitive function in BD.
- Examination of cognitive performance in premorbid, syndromal, and post-onset phases of BD.
Main Results:
- Premorbid cognitive dysfunction is not typical; enhanced cognition may indicate BD risk.
- Established BD is associated with impaired information processing speed, verbal learning, memory, and response inhibition.
- Cognitive function is generally stable post-onset, but dementia risk increases in old age.
- Cognitive impairment predicts functional outcomes in BD patients.
Conclusions:
- Cognition is a vital marker of neural integrity in all phases of BD.
- Cognitive function represents a significant therapeutic target for reducing disability in BD.
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