Cognitive dysfunction is a symptom domain across multiple psychiatric disorders. Cognitive deficits in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are significant contributors to global occupational and functional disability. The subdomains of learning and memory, executive function, processing speed, and attention and concentration are significantly impaired in individuals with MDD and BD. Treatment outcomes of cognitive symptoms with first-line agents have been suboptimal. Neuroinflammatory pathways are hypothesized to play key roles in the pathoaetiology of cognitive symptoms in MDD and BD. There is compelling evidence to suggest that elevation of systemic proinflammatory cytokines is involved in neurotoxicity, apoptosis, and aberrant neurocircuit function. These substrates offer opportunities to identify relevant biomarkers, refine treatment targets, and manage cognitive deficits across major psychiatric illnesses. This chapter provides an overview of cognitive symptoms across MDD and BD and discusses potential neurobiological substrates contributing to cognitive dysfunction.
Premorbid Cognitive Dysfunction and Endophenotypes in Bipolar Disorder: A Rapid Review