Cognitive discrepancy patterns and their association with psychosocial functioning across affective disorders.
Muriel Vicent-Gil1, Maria Serra-Blasco2, Joan Trujols1
1Sant Pau Mental Health Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Sant Quintí 77-79, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; Hospital de la Sant Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
Spanish Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health
|August 31, 2025
Summary
Major depressive disorder patients often underestimate their cognitive abilities, while bipolar disorder patients tend to overestimate theirs. Accurate cognitive assessment is crucial for effective treatment in affective disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients often show discrepancies between self-reported and objectively measured cognition.
- These cognitive discrepancies may differ between disorders and are influenced by clinical and sociodemographic factors.
- Understanding these discrepancies is vital as overestimation is linked to better functioning in depression, while underestimation correlates with worse functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive discrepancies in patients with MDD and BD compared to healthy controls.
- To identify factors associated with cognitive under- or overestimation.
- To examine the impact of diagnosis and cognitive discrepancy patterns on psychosocial functioning.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 200 participants (160 patients with MDD or BD in remission, 40 healthy controls).
- Collection of sociodemographic, clinical, and functional data alongside subjective and objective cognitive measures.
- Multivariate logistic regression and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze cognitive discrepancies and their effect on functioning.
Main Results:
- Patients with MDD tended to underestimate cognitive abilities, whereas BD patients tended to overestimate them.
- Higher depressive symptoms and intellectual level were associated with reporting more subjective cognitive disturbances.
- Worse psychosocial functioning was linked to the diagnosis itself, particularly in bipolar disorder, rather than cognitive underestimation.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive assessment in affective disorders requires personalized approaches integrating both subjective and objective measures.
- Avoiding generalizations is essential for accurate evaluation of cognitive symptoms.
- Tailored cognitive evaluations can improve understanding and management of cognitive deficits in MDD and BD.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.4K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.4K
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
33.5K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
33.5K
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
120
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
120
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
107
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
107
01:20Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic
164
Schizotypal personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder are two distinct psychological conditions classified under personality disorders, each characterized by unique behavioral patterns and social difficulties. Both disorders significantly affect interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being, leading to social isolation and frustration.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...
164
01:26Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant
181
Narcissistic and avoidant personality traits represent two contrasting patterns of behavior that significantly influence social interactions and self-perception. While individuals with narcissistic disorder seek admiration and validation, individuals with avoidant personality disorder withdraw due to fear of judgment.
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...
181