The human mind can fail in different ways, and those disorders that affect cognition are especially serious.

This article will explain what a cognitive disorder is , which refers to an impairment of our normal brain functioning. We will also see a section to understand what cognitive functions are, we will understand why these are so important when explaining the subject of the article and we will add a classification of the main types of cognitive disorders.

What is a cognitive impairment?

A cognitive disorder is a type of mental disorder that centrally affects our cognitive abilities , which enable us to carry out the tasks we need to do in our daily lives. It is a disorder that affects the mind at different levels related to anticipation, planning and the search for solutions to problems.

Cognitive mental disorder is considered to be a psychological disorder that has as its cause some problem in the normal functioning of basic cognitive functions. The alterations in these basic cognitive functions generate problems in other more complex cognitive functions, as we will see below.

Cognitive functions

To better understand the alterations or dysfunctions that occur in cognitive impairment, it is appropriate to recognize the cognitive functions that may be involved.
These are all those mental processes that enable us to perform tasks .

We will now review the main basic brain functions and the main complex brain functions that are involved in a cognitive disorder.

Basic or primary cognitive functions

For our survival we have had to learn to perceive, select, process, manage and work with the relevant information. The basic functions allow us

1. Attention

This function allows the person to focus on the relevant information in a particular context or problem to be solved. The stimuli that are produced around us are infinite, and processing all the available information is impossible and useless.

2. Perception

It is through our senses that information comes to us. Perception is the function that works the internal and external stimuli, that is, the one that channels and makes us aware of all kinds of information that is produced in our body and in our environment .

3. Memory

This function allows you to organize the information you have processed and learned. There are many types of memory , but we can say in general that memory sorts, archives and retrieves all types of data so that we can work with it.

4. Reasoning

It is the logical responsible function, with implications for such important executive functions as problem-solving ability or language

Complex or superior cognitive functions

From the above basic functions derive other more complex ones that relate different areas of the brain to achieve them . Next we see the most remarkable ones.

1. Orientation

Orientation has different axes of reference, as it is a cognitive function that takes into account space, time , the relationship with oneself and the relationship with others.

2. Language

Language is the competence that allows an individual to interpret logical and symbolic systems .

3. Practical skills

It is these capabilities that relate to efficient organization, planning and execution. This neurological process is the one that allows to make physical actions of all type , like knowing how to dress or to draw.

4. Executive functions

In the case of damaged executive functions , there are great disturbances in people’s intention , since this function monitors all lower level cognitive functions like the previous ones.

5. Problem solving skills

In reality, it is a set of intelligences or capacities that allow us to solve complex problems of all kinds.

Types of cognitive disorders

Cognitive functions are essential to be able to lead a life without dysfunctions when performing day-to-day tasks.

Thus, after seeing the main primary and secondary cognitive functions, it will be much easier for us to understand the different types of cognitive impairment that we will present below.

1. Direct cognitive disorders

We classify as direct cognitive disorders those that by their nature have a direct impact on the cognitive functions we have explained above.

Amnesia

Amnesia is a term that refers to partial or complete loss of memory. It affects this basic brain function very specifically, preventing the individual from recovering or retaining information that was already stored in his brain.

These processes of managing this information occur through complex brain mechanisms such as coding, storage and evocation.

Dementia

When cognitive deficits occur, as in dementia, any of the brain functions can be affected. The impact that dementia has on memory, language, attention, control or inhibition of behaviour , praxis and executive functions or problem-solving capacity is noteworthy.

Delirium or acute confusional syndrome

These are all those organic disorders, that is, caused by a loss or abnormality of the structure or function of the brain tissue, or both at the same time.

In this affectation, alterations can be produced at the level of consciousness, and the complex cognitive functions are characterized by being acute and with very global affectation , but it is also reversible.

For example, if delirium is caused by a brain tumor that presses on the brain tissue and the tissue is successfully removed without damaging the structure, the person returns to a normal state.

2. Anxiety disorders

In anxiety disorders there is a fear of a future threat. Our mind gives as an anticipatory response an emotional disturbance , which can even lead to physical symptoms such as tachycardia or tremors.

The behaviors are generally avoidant, and may be continuous or episodic. There is a good variety of them that affect our normal cognitive activity. Below we will look at the most representative ones.

Phobias

Phobia is a psychological disorder characterized by a very intense and unjustified fear of animals, objects or specific situations.

They are a type of disorder that can lead to experiences of extreme anxiety or panic for the person who suffers it. There are different ones, and depending on what the object of the fear is , the person’s life may be more or less affected.

For example, people with social phobia can have their normal way of functioning in social situations such as parties or events seriously affected.

Generalized anxiety disorder

In this type of disorder, worry and generalized anxiety about any daily event is very common. People who suffer from it are constantly worried about things going wrong .

Restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, muscle tension, sleep disorders, irritability and fatigue are common manifestations associated with this disorder. Like other cognitive disorders, cognitive functions are dependent on the mental state of the sufferer.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Extreme events that you may have experienced can trigger post-traumatic stress. War, rape, a hurricane, an attack or a serious accident on the road can lead to this type of mental impairment.

This disorder makes the person feel stressed and afraid to relive what has happened to him or her . Memories of what has been experienced and difficulty in sleeping, feelings of loneliness and guilt, worry or sadness, and even outbursts of anger appear, affecting the individual but also those around him.

4. Psychotic disorders

This type of disorder causes abnormal ideas and perceptions, causing the person to lose touch with reality. Delusions and hallucinations are the main symptoms .

The delusions are nothing more than false beliefs that maximize their impact on personal life, for example that the neighborhood is against you or that someone in the newspaper sends you secret messages. Hallucinations are false perceptions of reality; the person seems to hear, feel or see something that does not exist.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a type of psychotic disorder characterized by a loss of judgment of reality accompanied by a major personality disorganization .

In schizophrenia, both positive and negative symptoms appear. The former include delusions, hallucinations and thought disorders, while the latter affect lack of motivation, emotion or altered emotion, and speech difficulties.

In addition, problems of decreased neurocognitive capacity appear in this cognitive disorder. Basic functions such as memory, attention, problem solving or social control are seriously affected.

Delusional disorders or paranoid psychosis

This psychotic disorder is characterized by the delusions that the person has . These are not as strange as in other disorders if there is no other notable psychopathology.

People who suffer from it do not meet the criteria for schizophrenia and do not hallucinate, or at least not noticeably, as some may appear to be related to the subject of delirium.

The person who suffers from the delirious disorder enjoys a sufficiently functional life , he only shows a strange behaviour in matters directly related to the idea of delirium.
Unfortunately, the patient’s life can be increasingly affected by the weight and influence that his or her beliefs have on other parts of his or her mental life.

3. Mood disorders

These cognitive disorders greatly affect the person who suffers them because they cannot lead a normal life as their mood is very altered. Depression and bipolar disorder are the most representative of these disorders.

Depression

Depression in a mental illness that is characterized by a very acute alteration of the state where pathological sadness is the main symptom. This feeling is more intense and longer lasting than we would understand as normal, and can cause great anxiety . Everything together can appear without a justified cause.

It is a cognitive disorder because it produces a decrease in the ability to concentrate and think, and can encourage such negative ideas as suicide. It can also generate isolation, agitation, lack of communication and even aggressive behavior (towards oneself or others).

Bipolar disorder

This disease is characterized by a shift from euphoric to depressive episodes . The events in the patient’s life are not the cause of these behavioural changes.

Those with bipolar disorder may also have psychotic symptoms, with varying degrees of severity. The most severe degrees of euphoria and depression can occur very quickly and intensely, making it very difficult for the individual to lead a normal life.

Bibliographic references:

  • Butcher, J.N., Mineka, S. and Hooley, J.M. (2007). Clinical Psychology (12th Ed.). Madrid: Pearson.
  • Castelfranchi C., Mancini F. and Miceli M. (2002). Fondamenti di cognitivismo clinico. Turin: Bollati Boringhieri.
  • Simpson, J.R. (2014). DSM-5 and neurocognitive disorders. J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law, 42 (2), 159-64.
  • Guerrero, A. (2008). Problem-Based Behavioral Science of Medicine. New York: Springer. 367–79.
  • Sarason, I.G. and Sarason, B.R. (2006). Abnormal psychology: the problem of maladaptive behavior (11th Ed.). Madrid: Prentice-Hall.