Quality of Life and Global Functioning Among Chronic Type I Bipolar Disorder Patients in Comparison With a General Population in Iran

Introdution:Our study represents a pilot evaluation about how the MOOD-SR recognizes subthreshold manifestations that may be associated with clinical symptomatology in a group of bipolar patients.Methods:At Day Hospital of Psychiatry, Policlinico “A. Gemelli”, Bipolar Disorders Unit, it has been conducted an experimental study on a heterogeneous sample of 24 patients with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder type I. Patients have been assessed with the MOOD-SR, a clinical self-reported interview, that is specific for the spectrum of subthreshold pathology, and with the Quality of Life (QoL), that investigates the patient's quality of life.Results:We have found that 16 patients on 24 report a score higher than 60 (68,4%). Among these, 10 female patients on 15 have a total score higer than 61 (68.75%) while 6 male patients on 9 obtain a total score higher than 60 (62,5%). However, these results have only preliminary value, further studies are needed in order to obtain a deeper evaluation.Conclusion:Spectrum manifestations are both indicator of course and response to treatment and predictive for relapse. This finding may represent an important preventive instrument for maniacal relapse in patients with Bipolar Disorder, that is often underdiagnosed or confused for Unipolar Depression. By adequately recognizing the problem we will be able to refine diagnosis and individualize therapy.

Download Full-text

History of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder type I: socio-demographic and clinical factors, quality of life and functioning

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/08039488.2020.1853230 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Vitor Fernandes de Almeida ◽

Severino Bezerra-Filho ◽

Paula Studart-Bottó ◽

Gabriela Léda-Rego ◽

Ivã Taiuan Fialho Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Type I ◽

Clinical Factors ◽

History Of ◽

Disorder Type

Download Full-text

Quality of life in bipolar disorder patients: a comparison with a general population sample

Bipolar Disorders ◽

10.1111/j.1399-5618.2008.00604.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 625-634 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Luis Gutirrez-Rojas ◽

Manuel Gurpegui ◽

Jos L Ayuso-Mateos ◽

Jos A Gutirrez-Ariza ◽

Miguel Ruiz-Veguilla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

General Population ◽

Population Sample ◽

General Population Sample

Download Full-text

Decrease in prolactine levels after treatment with aripiprazole during a maniac episode: A case report

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1166 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S333-S334

Author(s):

J.M. Coll ◽

G. Martínez-Alés ◽

N. Salgado

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Case Report ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Antipsychotic Agent ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Type I ◽

The Moment

IntroductionHyperprolactinemia can produce clinical symptoms affecting the patient's quality of life and therefore limiting therapeutic approaches to bipolar disorder.Case reportWe report a case of a 46-year-old woman, with a 10 year history of type I bipolar disorder and a microprolactinoma, who was admitted to a psychiatry inpatient unit due to a maniac episode. Current symptoms at the moment of admission included hyperthymia, verbiage, flight of ideas and insomnia. Menstrual changes and galactorrea had been present previously. Aripiprazole was introduced, reaching a dose of 30 mg/day, in addition to her usual treatment with lithium and gabapentin. Response to treatment was good and euthymia was reached within 10 days. Moreover, gabapentin was substituted by Valproic acid, and the patient was discharged once therapeutic levels were attained. Prolactin levels were measured at the moment of admission (128.75 ng/mL) and after 11 days of treatment (92.93 ng/mL).DiscussionChoosing an adequate antipsychotic agent can reduce the risk of iatrogenesis and thus enhance adherence to treatment and quality of life. Aripiprazole had previously shown a high potential at decreasing levels of prolactine. In this case, clinical practice supports scientific evidence.ConclusionsAripiprazole is an effective treatment for type I bipolar disorder. Especially, it can be a treatment of choice in patients suffering from symptoms related to high levels of prolactine, even using a high dosage.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Telemedical care and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: results of a randomized controlled trial

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03318-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ulrike Stentzel ◽

Neeltje van den Berg ◽

Kilson Moon ◽

Lara N. Schulze ◽

Josephine Schulte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Treatment Time ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Global Functioning ◽

Telemedical Care

Abstract Background Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are serious psychiatric disorders with a high disease burden, a high number of years of life lived with disability and a high risk for relapses and re-hospitalizations. Besides, both diseases are often accompanied with a reduced quality of life (QoL). A low level of quality of life is one predictor for relapses. This study examines whether a telemedical care program can improve QoL. Methods Post stationary telemedical care of patients with severe psychiatric disorders” (Tecla) is a prospective controlled randomized intervention trial to implement and evaluate a telemedical care concept for patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Participants were randomized to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received telemedical care including regular, individualized telephone calls and SMS-messages. QoL was measured with the German version of the WHOQOL-BREF. Effects of telemedicine on QoL after 6 months and treatment*time interactions were calculated using linear regressions (GLM and linear mixed models). Results One hundred eighteen participants were recruited, thereof 57.6% men (n = 68). Participants were on average 43 years old (SD 13). The treatment*time interaction was not significant. Hence, treatment had no significant effect either. Instead, gender is an influencing factor. Further analysis showed that social support, the GAF-level and QoL-values at baselines were significant determinants for the improvement of QoL. Conclusion The telemedicine care concept Tecla was not significant for QoL in patients with severe psychiatric disorders. More important for the QoL is the general social support and the level of global functioning of the patients. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00008548, registered 21 May 2015 – retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do

Download Full-text

Perceived Quality of Life in Patients with Bipolar Disorder. Does Group Psychoeducation Have an Impact?

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674370505000204 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 95-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Erin E Michalak ◽

Lakshmi N Yatham ◽

Dante DC Wan ◽

Raymond W Lam

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Large Body ◽

Well Being ◽

Type I ◽

Treatment Intervention ◽

General Satisfaction ◽

The Impact

Objective: A large body of research has now accumulated concerning quality of life (QoL) for patients with major depressive disorder, both in terms of describing levels of well-being and in terms of assessing the impact of treatment interventions. However, there is little information concerning QoL for patients with bipolar disorder (BD), and there is relatively little published evidence concerning the effectiveness of psychological interventions for BD. We aimed to assess the impact of a time-limited psychoeducation (PE) group therapy upon perceived QoL among patients with BD. Method: Participants were patients ( n = 57) with BD type I or II who were clinically described as euthymic or mildly symptomatic. Treatment intervention was a standardized, 8-week group PE course delivered in a mood disorders program in British Columbia, Canada. Using retrospective chart review and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), we assessed QoL at baseline and at 8 weeks. Results: Mean baseline Q-LES-Q scores were 56%, representing moderate impairment in QoL. Group PE was associated with a 5-point increase in Q-LES-Q scores (where higher scores indicate better QoL). Examination of the questionnaire's subscales revealed that 2 domains (that is, physical functioning and general satisfaction) increased significantly following PE, with the remaining domains showing nonsignificant trends toward improved functioning. Multivariate analysis indicated that only one factor (having had a recent episode of depression) significantly predicted pre- and posttreatment Q-LES-Q scores. Conclusion: Patients with BD continue to show impaired QoL even when clinically euthymic. Although preliminary, our results show that group PE is associated with improved QoL in this population, both in terms of general satisfaction and in relation to levels of physical functioning. The use of PE as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in BD should be further studied with particular emphasis on characterizing the effects of treatment intervention on perceived QoL.

Download Full-text

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for bipolar disorder

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2055 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S556-S556

Author(s):

T. Abreu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Global Functioning ◽

Bipolar Patients

IntroductionBipolar disorder is a chronic disease with a major impact on patient's functioning and quality of life, not only during episodes of mania/hypomania or depression, but also during euthymic periods. In recent years, it has been noticed that pharmacotherapy, albeit its great value, is not enough to prevent recurrences of the disease. Therefore, it has been a greater investment in psychosocial interventions as adjuvant treatment. The utmost studied of these interventions is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).Objectives and aimsGather information about the efficacy of CBT in bipolar disorder.MethodsLiterature review.ResultsSeveral studies have compared groups of bipolar patients submitted to CBT to controls submitted to treatment as usual. The methods and size of samples differ, but the results are in general concordant. Individual or group CBT has had positive results in reducing symptoms, increasing the euthymic periods, decreasing duration of episodes and improving global functioning and quality of life.ConclusionsThere are limitations on the application of CBT in bipolar patients, mainly the decrease of its effects over time; less efficiency in patients with more severe disease; major impact on depressive symptoms than manic; and lack of human resources trained to apply these techniques. Notwithstanding these limitations, the demonstrated gain in the use of CBT on bipolar disorder is evident; hence, investment in this area is undoubtedly important.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text