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Cross-sectional studies have shown impaired cognitive functioning in individuals with bipolar disorder, during both acute mood episodes and periods of remission. In a recent longitudinal study conducted in Spain, researchers examined cognitive impairment and its effect on psychosocial functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder over 6 years of follow-up.
Twenty-eight outpatients with bipolar I or II disorder and 26 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and years of education were tested by the same neuropsychologist at baseline and 6 years later. All patients were euthymic for at least 3 months at both testing times and had been taking lithium at baseline.
Patients showed significant worsening in work functioning and subsyndromal …