Metacognitive knowledge and experience across multiple cognitive domains in euthymic bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Metacognitive knowledge (MK; general awareness of cognitive functioning) and metacognitive experience (ME; awareness of cognitive performance on a specific cognitive task) represent two facets of metacognition that are critical for daily functioning, but are understudied in bipolar disorder. This study was conducted to evaluate MK and ME across multiple cognitive domains in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder and unaffected volunteers, and to investigate the association between metacognition and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Fifty-seven euthymic participants with bipolar disorder and 55 demographically similar unaffected volunteers provided prediction and postdiction ratings of cognitive task performance across multiple cognitive domains. Self-ratings were compared to objective task performance, and indices of MK and ME accuracy were generated and compared between groups. Participants rated QoL on the Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder Scale (QoL.BD). RESULTS: Metacognitive inaccuracies in both MK and ME were observed in participants with bipolar disorder, but only in select cognitive domains. Furthermore, most metacognitive inaccuracies involved underestimation of cognitive ability. Metacognitive indices were minimally associated with medication variables and mood symptoms, but several indices were related to QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with bipolar disorder demonstrate inaccuracies in rating their cognitive functioning and in rating their online cognitive task performance, but only on select cognitive functions. The tendency to underestimate performance may reflect a negative information processing bias characteristic of mood disorders. Metacognitive variables were also predictive of QoL, indicating that further understanding of cognitive self-appraisals in persons with bipolar disorder has significant clinical relevance.

Metacognitive knowledge and experience in recently diagnosed patients with bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Metacognition, which refers to an individual's ability to assess their own cognitive ability or performance, is poorly understood in bipolar disorder. This study was conducted to evaluate two aspects of metacognitive ability in recently diagnosed patients with bipolar disorder: (a) metacognitive knowledge, pertaining to awareness of one's own general cognitive functioning; and (b) metacognitive experience, referring to awareness of one's cognitive performance on a specific, online cognitive task. METHOD: Participants consisted of 50 clinically euthymic patients recently diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) bipolar I disorder who were within three months of resolution of their first manic episode, and a comparison group of 38 demographically similar healthy volunteers. To assess metacognitive knowledge, participants provided a general rating of their estimated cognitive ability prior to completing a neuropsychological battery, and self-ratings were compared to actual ability based on a composite score of overall cognitive functioning. To assess metacognitive experience, subjects provided a postdiction rating of their perceived memory performance after completing a list learning verbal memory test, and self-ratings were compared to actual memory performance. Measures of both relative and absolute accuracy of ratings were obtained. RESULTS: Results indicated that patients showed diminished accuracy in rating their general cognitive ability, implying deficits in metacognitive knowledge. In contrast, patients were accurate in rating their online memory performance, suggesting intact metacognitive experience. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that in patients with bipolar disorder, intact task-specific cognitive self-appraisals may fail to generalize to or to modify inaccurate global cognitive self-appraisals. Further research using more comprehensive metacognitive tasks is warranted in bipolar disorder.

Cognitive performance and quality of life early in the course of bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported cognitive functioning as a significant predictor of quality of life (QoL) in patients with established bipolar disorder (BD), in addition to mood symptoms. However, it is unclear whether cognitive functioning predicts QoL early in the course of illness. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the relationship between mood and neuropsychological variables and self-reported QoL early in the course of BD. METHODS: Patients with BD-I (n=54) completed a neuropsychological battery and clinical assessment within 3 months of resolution of their first manic episode. QoL was assessed 6 months later using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q). Cognitive predictors of QoL were assessed through Pearson correlations and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: After accounting for mood rating scores at the time of cognitive testing (ΔR²=.27, p<.001), measures of sustained attention (ΔR²=.08, p<.05), verbal memory (ΔR²=.09, p<.01), working memory (ΔR²=.06, p<.05), and executive functioning (ΔR²=.08, p<.05) each predicted QoL when entered independently in separate regression models. When entered simultaneously, the cognitive domains explained 15% (R(2)=.42, p<.05) of the variance in QoL beyond mood. LIMITATIONS: Some aspects of QoL that are particularly important in BD may be missing as a result of using the Q-LES-Q, because the measure was not specifically developed to assess QoL in BD. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to mood symptoms, poorer cognitive functioning is a significant predictor of reduced QoL early in the course of BD. Recently diagnosed patients with BD may benefit from early cognitive-enhancing interventions to maintain or restore their QoL.