Cognitive Impairment and Functional Outcome in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Cognitiveimpairment in schizophrenia and that in bipolar disorder share somesimilarities. However, more literature exists on cognitive impairment inschizophrenia than in bipolar disorder. The NIMH Measurement and TreatmentResearch to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Initiative has identified several cognitive domains that are dysfunctional inschizophrenia and should be considered in the context of clinical trials.Cognitive impairments in these domains are also seen in bipolar disorder, butthey tend to be milder. These impairments seem to be a core feature ofschizophrenia and exist outside of mood episodes in bipolar disorder.Impairments are present in unaffected relatives of patients with schizophreniaor bipolar disorder, can serve as an endophenotype for both illnesses, and arelinked to community functioning.