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Effect of number of episodes on wellbeing and functioning of patients with bipolar disorder
Author(s) -
MacQueen Glenda M.,
Young L. Trevor,
Robb Janine C.,
Marriott Michael,
Cooke Robert G.,
Joffe Russell T.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.101005374.x
Subject(s) - bipolar disorder , psychology , global assessment of functioning , depression (economics) , psychiatry , clinical psychology , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: To examine the relationship between number of episodes and inter‐episode functioning in bipolar disorder. Method: Sixty‐four euthymic subjects with bipolar affective disorder completed the Medical Outcomes Questionnaire Short Form and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Goodness‐of‐fit models were used to define the relation between episode number and level of function. Results: Non‐linear logarithmic and power relations best described the association between number of episodes and outcome. Number of past depressions was a stronger determinant of outcome than past manias. Conclusion: Strategies to minimize the number of episodes experienced by patients with bipolar illness must be pursued aggressively if function is to be maintained, with particular attention given to minimizing episodes of depression.