Managing Cognitive Dysfunction in Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

Cognitive dysfunction, including memory and concentration difficulty, is an emerging treatment target in bipolar disorder. However, a key challenge in the management of these cognitive deficits is the lack of treatments with robust effects on cognition. Further, it is unclear how cognitive dysfunction should be assessed and addressed in the clinical treatment of the disorder. This talk will review the evidence for cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder, including its severity, persistence and impact on patients’ functional recovery. It will then discuss when and how to assess cognition and present some new feasible screening tools for cognitive dysfunction. Finally, it will highlight some novel candidate cognition treatments.

Disclosure of interest

I have acted as a consultant and received honoraria from Lundbeck and Allergan.