[Social cognition in patients with mood disorders. Part II: bipolar disorder : a selective review of the literature].
OBJECTIVE
Overview on the current knowledge regarding social cognition in patients with bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Selective literature research on deficits in social cognition intrinsic to bipolar disorder, their occurrence and effects.


RESULTS
Deficits in social cognition are considered to be core features of bipolar disorder. They are apparent during acute episodes of the disorder, endure when patients are in remission and have a significant negative impact on the patients' psychosocial outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to consider deficits in social cognition as an integral part of a treatment approach to achieve mental stabilization in patients with bipolar disorder.
Department für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Univ.-Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie und Sozialpsychiatrie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich, christine.hoertnagl@i-med.ac.at.
Christine Maria
CM
Hoertnagl
Stefan
S
Oberheinricher
Alex
A
Hofer
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003289:Convalescence; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011379:Prognosis; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind