OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to investigate the neurocognitive functioning of patients with remitted bipolar disorder and compare with schizophrenic patients' neurocognitive functioning. METHODS: This issue was addressed by comparing remitted DSM-IV diagnosed bipolar, schizophrenics patients and controls on several clinical and neurocognitive measures. Clinical state was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Neurocognitive measures included the KWIS, WMS-III, Korean California Verbal Learning Test (K-CVLT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Test (RCFT), and Color Trails Test (CTT). Thirty-two subjects with remitted bipolar disorder, twenty-four remitted schizophrenia and twelve normal controls were studied. RESULTS: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no differences across groups on age, education and IQ. With respect to neurocognitive test performance, bipolar disorder patients and schizophrenic patients were similar and both groups were impaired compared to normal controls. Two diagnosed groups have persistent impairments in neurocognitive function, particularly in the domains of declarative memory. CONCLUSION: The results provide support for the view that remitted patients with bipolar disorder suffer cognitive impairment.