Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Cognitive performance significantly impacts psychiatric disorder functional levels.
• Bipolar disorder (BD) functional outcomes are influenced by cognitive abilities.
• Understanding factors affecting disability in euthymic BD patients is crucial for long-term management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate disability levels in euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) patients.
• To examine the role of social cognition in BD-related disability.
• To identify clinical and sociodemographic factors influencing disability in BD.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 62 euthymic BD patients.
• Assessed social cognition using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and Basic Empathy Scale (BES).
• Evaluated disability using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-2).

Main Results:

• Higher educational level correlated positively with RMET scores.
• Age and social support negatively impacted WHODAS-2 scores.
• Onset with a depressive episode positively impacted WHODAS-2 scores.

Conclusions:

• Depressive onset and reduced social support are associated with disability in euthymic BD.
• Older age and social support may mitigate disability, suggesting psychoeducation and coping strategies are beneficial.
• Early intervention and supportive factors are key for managing BD disability.