The role of gender in single vs married individuals with bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
Despite the importance of marriage as a source of social support, it has been largely neglected in studies of bipolar disorder; and differential effects on men and women have not been explored.


METHODS
Data on episodes of depression, mania, and mixed states were collected for the previous 2 years from a sample of 282 bipolar individuals using the National Institute of Mental Health Life Chart Methodology.


RESULTS
Effects unique to women included the following: Bipolar women were significantly more likely to be married. Married women had fewer episodes of depression during the past 2 years than never-married women, and the cumulative severity of depression was lower. There were no differences in diagnostic subtype or age of onset between married and never-married women. Among men, never-married men were more likely to have bipolar I disorder and had an earlier age of onset compared with married men. There were no differences between married and never-married men in frequency, duration, or severity of mood episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Partner selection processes as they relate to bipolar disorder may be different for men and women. The bipolar I diagnostic subtype and early age of onset were associated with a lower likelihood of being married for men, but not for women. Marriage was associated with less depression in women during a 2-year period; but marital status was not associated with disease course differences in men, suggesting that women may be more sensitive to the positive effects of social support available within a stable marital relationship.
Lieberman
Daniel Z
DZ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA. dlieberman@mfa.gwu.edu
Massey
Suena H
SH
Goodwin
Frederick K
FK
D017668:Age of Onset; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D018579:Patient Selection; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors