Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

Cognitive performance is known to influence the functional level of psychiatric disorders in both the short and long term. This study aims to examine disability, social cognition, and the clinical and sociodemographic variables affecting both in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) during the euthymic phase.

This cross-sectional study included 62 euthymic patients diagnosed with BD who attended the Mood Disorders Outpatient Clinic of the Psychiatry Department and agreed to participate. Data collection involved a sociodemographic information form, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and the Basic Empathy Scale (BES) to assess social cognition, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-2) to evaluate disability.

A significant positive correlation was identified between RMET scores and educational level (r = 0.320, p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that age (β=-0.284; p = 0.025) and social support(β=-0.310; p = 0.008) had a significant negative impact on WHODAS-2 total scores, whereas having a first episode of depression compared to a first episode of mania had a significant positive impact on WHODAS-2 total scores (β = 0.281; p = 0.025).

The findings suggest that the onset of BD with a depressive episode and the lack of social support may be associated with disability even in the euthymic phase. The significant negative association between age and disability implies that increased awareness through psychoeducation and the development of appropriate coping strategies may contribute to reduced disability in later life. These results highlight the importance of early intervention and supportive factors in the management of BD.