Adults with bipolar disorder (BD) often experience both objectively measurable cognitive impairments and subjectively perceived cognitive errors, though research shows a weak correlation between the two. While prior studies have identified cognitive subgroups using objective testing, this study is the first to use perceived cognitive errors and mood symptoms to identify four distinct clusters: low symptoms/low cognitive errors, low symptoms/moderate errors, high symptoms/moderate errors, and high symptoms/high errors. Importantly, psychological well-being—including self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and life meaning—declined as both perceived cognitive errors and mood symptoms increased. Contrary to expectations and the neuroprogression hypothesis, neither age nor duration of BD diagnosis was associated with greater perceived cognitive loss.

These findings suggest that perceived cognitive errors are not just proxies for mood symptoms like depression but are also influenced by hypo/mania and play a meaningful role in predicting psychological well-being. The strongest impairments were found in individuals reporting both high depressive and manic symptoms, along with frequent distractibility, forgetfulness, and false triggering. Moreover, those with the highest symptom burdens also reported poorer sleep quality, greater alcohol misuse, and were prescribed more psychotropic medications. These results highlight the need to address subjective cognitive difficulties directly, as they independently affect quality of life and may not be fully explained by mood state or aging alone.

Reference: Haglili O, Sixsmith A, Star AP, et al. Correction: Perceived cognitive loss, symptomology, and psychological well-being with bipolar disorder. Int J Bipolar Disord. 2024 Nov 18;12(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s40345-024-00361-8. Erratum for: Int J Bipolar Disord. 2024 Oct 5;12(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s40345-024-00357-4. PMID: 39557709; PMCID: PMC11573948.