The mood-state-related cognitive deficits in both bipolar depression and hypomania compromise psychosocial function when patients are unwell. In euthymic patients, subtle impairments in attention and memory suggest that an absence of symptoms does not necessarily equate to 'recovery'. The possibility of persistent cognitive deficits in BD is an issue of profound clinical and research interest that warrants further investigation; however, future research needs to adopt more sophisticated neuropsychological probes that are able to better define state and trait deficits and determine their functional impact.

Euthymic bipolar patients are perhaps constrained in their ability to engage affective processing. Diminished ventral prefrontal cortex activation corroborates previous reports of a potential trait deficit, suggesting that 'all is not well in euthymia', although the effects of medication cannot be overlooked.

Preliminary findings from treatment outcome studies provide support for the application of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of affective, anxiety and personality disorders. However, direct evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation per se in the treatment of psychiatric disorders is needed. Current neurophysiological and imaging research findings have identified neural changes in association with meditation and provide a potentially promising avenue for future research.