Disability in Patients with Bipolar and Recurrent Depressive Disorder in Remission: A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND: To compare the disability among patients with bipolar disorder and recurrent depressive disorder in remission. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of outpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients in the remission phase of the illness were taken for the study. Disability assessment was done using Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale. Treatment compliance was measured using medication adherence rating scale. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Between group comparison. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were included in the study, 25 in bipolar and 15 in recurrent depressive disorder group. There was no difference between the groups in the domain of self care. The bipolar patients had more impairment in interpersonal activities than recurrent depressive disorder (RDD) group, this difference was statistically significant (P=0.004). The bipolar patients had more impairment in communication and understanding (P=0.009) and in work (P=0.011). The mean total score for disability was more for bipolar patients (P=0.0001). The total duration of illness had significant influence on communication and understanding, work, and total disability scores. The total number of episodes significantly influenced the impairment in interpersonal activities, communication and understanding, work, and total disability scores. The impairment in self care was significantly associated with the total number of psychotic episodes (P=0.0013). No significant relation was found between treatment compliance and disability. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with mood disorders had significant disability even during the periods of remission. The impairment was more for the bipolar patients compared with the RDD patients.