Cognitive Impairment, Psychosicial Functioning and the Course of Bipolar Disorder

For many years it has been believed that some individuals with schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder cannot think clearly. Studies of these 2 disorders have found 2 major reasons why this is the case: cognitive impairment, and lack of awareness of their own illness.



Psychosocial functioning in Bipolar disorder covers the whole spectrum of human potential. Some people with Bipolar Disorder accomplish landmarks in
achievement, others experience significant difficulties in daily living functioning.
The functional differences among people with Bipolar disorder present one of the toughest challenges to doctors with treatment and many people suffer severe functional decline, which progresses to a state of disability.
Psychosocial Impairment Associated With Bipolar disorder

Significant research has been done on the psychosocial impairment associated with
Bipolar I disorder and Major Depressive disorder. Less is known about Bipolar II disorder. One study assessed the social and work functioning with patients with these disorders.


Bipolar I and II disorder were associated with greater absenteeism from work due to the disorder compared to Major Depressive disorder. The Bipolar disorders also had higher rates of hospitalization and suicide attempts. Bipolar II disorder had fewer hospitalization than bipolar I disorder which may led to less severe work impairment. Both had similar rates of serious suicide attempts.

Functioning in a group of bipolar I and II disorder found that depressive symptoms were more disabling than hypomanic ones; they also found depressive symptoms to be as disabling than manic symptoms. They found no difference in psychosocial disability between Bipolar I and II disorder. Depression is more chronic in Bipolar II disorder and so psychosocial impairment may be worse in Bipolar II disorder, not Bipolar I disorder.