Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Our primary aim was to describe unique correlates of functioning in bipolar disorder (BD). The study included the first 500 patients enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Patients were 41.9 +/- 12.7 years old, and diagnosed with bipolar I, II or NOS, verified by structured interview. Overall functionality was determined by the Range of Impaired Function Tool (LIFE-RIFT). Stepwise multiple regression analysis tested the non-redundant-independent-association of 28 variables on functioning. Severity of depression symptoms was significantly and uniquely correlated with impaired functioning in the context of a wide variety of demographic and clinical variables, contributing 60.9% to the total variance in overall functioning (ss = 0.254, p = 0.0001). Substantial variance in function remains unexplained. Intensity of depressive symptoms is the major determinant of impaired functioning in bipolar disorder, but longitudinal analyses may further explain the substantial variance in function not explained by this large and comprehensive model. Treatments and outcome assessment for patients with bipolar disorders should consider both functional and symptomatic change.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Psychopharmacology bulletin

Publication Date

01/12/2008

Volume

41

Pages

51 - 64