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Processing speed

What is processing speed in bipolar disorder?

Processing speed is the time it takes a person to do a mental task; the time between receiving and responding to a stimulus. Slow processing speed is not necessarily related to intelligence, but may interfere with other cognitive tasks such as planning, setting goals, making decisions, and paying attention.

What is the evidence on processing speed in people with bipolar disorder?

Moderate to high quality evidence shows a large effect of slower processing speed in people with the disorder compared to controls without the disorder. The effect in first-episode patients was medium-sized. There were no differences in processing speed between youth aged ~13 years with the disorder and age and IQ-matched controls.

High quality evidence shows a small effect of slower processing speed in people with bipolar I compared to people with bipolar II. There was also slower processing speed in people with bipolar disorder with a history of psychotic symptoms compared to those with no history of psychotic symptoms. There was also slower processing speed in overweight people with the disorder compared to normal weight people with the disorder.

Compared to people with first-episode schizophrenia, moderate quality evidence shows a small effect of quicker processing speed in people with first-episode bipolar. There were no differences in the comparison of people with major depression.

High quality evidence suggests a small effect of slower processing speed in first-degree relatives of people with bipolar disorder compared to people with no family history of the disorder. Compared to first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia, moderate to high quality evidence shows a small effect of quicker processing speed in first-relatives of people with bipolar disorder.

High quality evidence suggests a small association between slower processing speed and poorer general functioning in people with bipolar disorder, and moderate quality evidence shows no changes in processing speed over time (~3.5 years).

October 2021

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Last updated at: 11:25 am, 16th March 2022
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