Citation

Kim YS, Cha B, Lee D, Kim SM, Moon E, Park CS, Kim BJ, Lee CS, Lee S. Psychiatry Investig. 2013; 10(3): 246-252.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Korean Neuropsychiatric Association)

DOI

10.4306/pi.2013.10.3.246

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by elevated impulsivity, even during periods of remission. Many recovered BD patients have functional impairments, which can lead to poor quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between impulsivity and QoL in euthymic BD patients.

METHODS A total of 56 remitted or recovered patients with type I or II BD, diagnosed based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, were recruited. Psychiatrists administered the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) for BD and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scales and then interviewed the subjects to assess clinical variables. Patients completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Brief Form (WHOQoL-BREF). Pearson correlations, univariate regression analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS The BIS-11 total score was significantly correlated with the WHOQoL-BREF total score (r=-0.55, p<0.01) and with the WHOQoL-BREF subscales. After controlling for GAF score and other clinical variables, the BIS-11 total score (β=-0.43, p=0.001) was independently associated with overall QoL. Additionally, the BIS-11 total score was particularly strongly associated with the physical, psychological, and social domains of the multi-dimensional QoL scale.

CONCLUSION Our results suggest that high impulsivity is related to low QoL in euthymic BD patients. Further studies are needed to examine whether interventions for high impulsivity effectively improve QoL in patients with BD. © 2013 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; aged; quality of life; bipolar disorder; Bipolar disorder; Impulsivity; physical activity; education; suicide attempt; hospitalization; article; major clinical study; controlled study; disease association; impulsiveness; social aspect; environmental factor; Quality of life; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; Clinical Global Impression scale; Global Assessment of Functioning; World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Brief Form