title: Employment outcomes in people with bipolar disorder: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Employment outcome in bipolar disorder is an under investigated, but important area. The aim of this study was to identify the long-term employment outcomes of people with bipolar disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review using the Medline, PsychInfo and Web of Science databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1962 abstracts retrieved, 151 full text papers were read. Data were extracted from 25 papers representing a sample of 4892 people with bipolar disorder and a mean length of follow-up of 4.9 years. Seventeen studies had follow-up periods of up to 4 years and eight follow-up of 5-15 years. Most studies with samples of people with established bipolar disorder suggest approximately 40-60% of people are in employment. Studies using work functioning measures mirrored this result. Bipolar disorder appears to lead to workplace underperformance and 40-50% of people may suffer a slide in their occupational status over time. Employment levels in early bipolar disorder were higher than in more established illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bipolar disorder damages employment outcome in the longer term, but up to 60% of people may be in employment. Whilst further studies are necessary, the current evidence provides support for extending the early intervention paradigm to bipolar disorder.
authors: Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. s.marwaha@warwick.ac.uk
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Marwaha
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Durrani
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Singh
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000379:methods*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D006801:Humans; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013995:Time
keywords: bipolar disorder; employment; outcome; work