TY - JOUR

T1 - Bipolar patients' quality of life in mixed states

T2 - a preliminary qualitative study

AU - Lee Mortensen, Gitte

AU - Vinberg, Maj

AU - Lee Mortensen, Steen

AU - Balslev Jørgensen, Martin

AU - Eberhard, Jonas

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of patients with bipolar disorder experience mixed states. Mixed states are associated with more comorbidity, poorer treatment response and prognosis, increased relapse rate, and decreased functioning. This study aimed to produce in-depth knowledge about bipolar patients' quality of life (QoL) and functioning related to mixed states.SAMPLING AND METHODS: This study used qualitative research methods. A semi-structured interview guide based on a literature study was applied in interviews with 6 remitted bipolar I patients having experienced mixed states. A medical anthropological approach was applied to analyse the data.RESULTS: Participants described mixed states as worse than other bipolar disorder states and their residual symptoms were prolonged. Mixed states affected the functioning of patients in key life domains such as self-esteem, family, love and social life, physical well-being, and working capability.CONCLUSIONS: Mixed states may severely affect the QoL and functioning of bipolar patients. Our results indicate that improving these should be a main goal of patient treatment. With an aim of adequately identifying and treating mixed states, our findings highlight the need for knowledge about this particularly severe expression of bipolar disorder. These results should be confirmed in a larger sample of patients with varying socioeconomic status.

AB - BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of patients with bipolar disorder experience mixed states. Mixed states are associated with more comorbidity, poorer treatment response and prognosis, increased relapse rate, and decreased functioning. This study aimed to produce in-depth knowledge about bipolar patients' quality of life (QoL) and functioning related to mixed states.SAMPLING AND METHODS: This study used qualitative research methods. A semi-structured interview guide based on a literature study was applied in interviews with 6 remitted bipolar I patients having experienced mixed states. A medical anthropological approach was applied to analyse the data.RESULTS: Participants described mixed states as worse than other bipolar disorder states and their residual symptoms were prolonged. Mixed states affected the functioning of patients in key life domains such as self-esteem, family, love and social life, physical well-being, and working capability.CONCLUSIONS: Mixed states may severely affect the QoL and functioning of bipolar patients. Our results indicate that improving these should be a main goal of patient treatment. With an aim of adequately identifying and treating mixed states, our findings highlight the need for knowledge about this particularly severe expression of bipolar disorder. These results should be confirmed in a larger sample of patients with varying socioeconomic status.

KW - Adult

KW - Bipolar Disorder

KW - Cognition

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Educational Status

KW - Emotions

KW - Family

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Interpersonal Relations

KW - Interview, Psychological

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Recurrence

KW - Self Concept

KW - Social Behavior

KW - Social Stigma

KW - Spouses

KW - Thinking

KW - Work

U2 - 10.1159/000381479

DO - 10.1159/000381479

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25895658

VL - 48

SP - 192

EP - 201

JO - Psychopathology

JF - Psychopathology

SN - 0254-4962

IS - 3

ER -