Characterized by symptoms of mania--an abnormally high mood--and depression--an abnormally low mood--bipolar disorder affects about 2.6 percent of the adult U.S. population, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. During manic episodes, patients become overly happy or jumpy. During depressive episodes, on the other hand, patients feel empty and lose interest in activities. Bipolar disorder can also cause problems with cognitive functions, like memory and attention.
Decreased Concentration
Bipolar disorder patients can have problems concentrating during both manic and depressive episodes. The Mayo Clinic's website notes that during manic episodes, patients cannot concentrate. This concentration problem can occur with other mania symptoms. For example, patients have racing thoughts, jumping from topic to topic, making them easily distracted. Manic bipolar disorder patients also have a decreased need for sleep. While patients have difficulty concentrating, they become more goal-oriented during mania and do more work than usual. Concentration problems can occur during depressive episodes as well, which occur along with fatigue and overwhelming sadness.
Memory Problems
Since mania and depression can cause concentration problems, patients can also have some memory issues. For example, if a person cannot concentrate, she cannot retain information and form new memories. In the American Journal of Psychiatry, "Cognitive Function Across Manic or Hypomanic, Depressed, and Euthymic States in Bipolar Disorder" notes that bipolar disorder patients have problems with verbal learning and memory. Information gathered from an auditory source, such as from a class lecture, becomes a verbal memory. Patients have problems with forming new memories, as well as recalling stored information during manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder. These memory problems can result in poor functioning. For example, if a patient's boss gives him a task and does so orally, the patient may not remember to complete it.
Impaired Judgment
Impaired judgment can occur with bipolar disorder, which affects patients' ability to make decisions. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that during depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, patients feel slowed down and find it harder to make decisions. The judgment problems can lead to performance problems in school or at work. The Mayo Clinic's website adds that during manic episodes, patients' poor judgment leads to risky behaviors. For example, manic bipolar disorder patients may use alcohol and drugs, have unprotected sex or go on shopping sprees. Some of the risky behaviors, like driving recklessly, can put the patients' lives at risk. Because judgment becomes affected, patients do not see the problems or risks with these behaviors.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count--Mental Disorders in America
- National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder
- Mayo Clinic: Bipolar Disorder--Symptoms
- American Journal of Psychiatry: Cognitive Function Across Manic or Hypomanic, Depressed, and Euthymic States in Bipolar Disorder
