Objective To explore the patterns of cognitive performance across different clinical states of bipolar disorder(BPD).Methods 8 neuropsychological tests (17 items) which examine attention,verbal learning and memory,visual memory and executive function were given to 30 depressed BPD ,30 manic BPD ,30 remitted BPD and 34 normal controls.The difference of cognitive functions between the four groups were compared using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).Results Acute patients with BPD showed dysfunction in almost all neuropsychological tests compared with controls [ the score of WCST categories of manic BPD,depressed BPD,remired BPD and normal controls was( 1.58 ±0.90),( 1.89± 1.56),(2.44 ± 1.42),(4.90 ± 1.73 ) respective-ly.The score of immediately logical memory was (10.68±3.92),(10.00±3.80) ,(12.11±3.72),(15.80±4.21) respectively] (P<0.05,P<0.01).The remitted patients showed deficits in attention,verbal learning and memory,executive function tasks in relation to controls (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion There were general cognitive deficits in acute patients with BPD,and some of these deficits may persists in remission state.