Health-related quality of life in Thai bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder (BPD) affects both patients 'functioning and well-being. Quality of life (QoL) has gained increasing attention as an important functional outcome in BPD. The present study was conducted to assess QoL of Thai BPD patients.


METHODS
The authors obtained cross-sectional demographic, clinical, and functional ratings from 285 BPD outpatients. SF-36 and Thai Mania Rating Scale (TMRS) were used to assess QoL and severity of symptoms respectively.


RESULTS
The mean TMRS was 4.42 +/- 5.87. Compared with the Thai general population, SF-36 scores of study population were significantly lower, except for bodily pain and social functioning domains. Sodium valproate treated group's SF-36 scores was better than lithium carbonate treated group' (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study is one of the pioneers in assessing the impact of co-morbidity on health-related QoL in Thai BPD patients. Even in the stable phase, patients were less functioning than the normal Thai population.
Kongsakon
Ronnachai
R
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. rarks@mahidol.ac.th
Thomyangkoon
Prakarn
P
Kanchanatawan
Buranee
B
Janenawasin
Suthiporn
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D014635:Valproic Acid