Provided by David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.
Surgeon General of the United States of America
Chapter 2
Manifestations of Mental Illness: Disturbances of Cognition
Cognitive function refers to the general ability to organize,
process, and recall information. Cognitive tasks may be subdivided into a large
number of more specific functions depending on the nature of the information
remembered and the circumstances of its recall. In addition, there are many
functions commonly associated with cognition such as the ability to execute
complex sequences of tasks. Disturbances of cognitive function may occur in a
variety of disorders. Progressive deterioration of cognitive function is
referred to as dementia. Dementia may be caused by a number of specific
conditions including Alzheimer’s disease (to be discussed in subsequent
chapters). Impairment of cognitive function may also occur in other mental
disorders such as depression. It is not uncommon to find profound disturbances
of cognition in patients suffering from severe mood disturbances. More recently,
cognitive deficits have been reported in schizophrenia and now have become a
major new topic of research. Lastly, cognitive impairment frequently occurs in a
host of chemical, metabolic, and infectious diseases that exert an impact on the
brain.
The manifestations of cognitive impairment can vary across an extremely wide
range, depending on severity. Short-term memory is one of the earliest functions
to be affected and, as severity increases, retrieval of more remote memories
becomes more difficult. Attention, concentration, and higher intellectual
functions can be impaired as the underlying disease process progresses. Language
difficulties range from mild word-finding problems to complete inability to
comprehend or use language. Functional impairments associated with cognitive
deficits can markedly interfere with the ability to perform activities of daily
living such as dressing and bathing.
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