Increased Emotional Distraction is a "Scar" of Bipolar Disorder
What is it about?
We tested a cognitive task (mental arithmetic) while participants were emotionally distracted. Patients with bipolar disorder showed greater distraction effects in response times, which correlated with compensatory hyperactivation in parietal cortical activity. Healthy people with increased risk to develop bipolar disorder (relatives of patients, people with hypomanic personality) did not show this increased distractibility.
Why is it important?
Even in remission, patients with bipolar disorder show many cognitive impairements, which reduces psychosocial functioning (e.g. being able to do a job). The study shows that part of these cognitive impairments is due to increased emotional distractibility. Interventions should, therefore, not only focus on cognitive trainings, but also on the shielding from emotions to improve cognitive functioning.