The effect of motivational interviewing on coping, functioning, and quality of life in patients with bipolar...

Coping, functionality, and quality of life levels are known to be lower in patients with bipolar disorder compared to the general population.

This study aimed to examine the effect of motivational interviewing on coping, functioning, and quality of life in patients with bipolar disorder.

The study was planned as randomized controlled with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Participants consisted of 48 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder who were selected using a purposive sampling method based on predefined inclusion criteria. They were then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group, with 24 individuals in each group. A motivational interview for six sessions was applied to those in the intervention group. Data were collected using an information form, the Coping Attitudes Assessment Scale, the Bipolar Disorder Functioning Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form.

Quality of life, coping, and functioning scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group after the intervention and at follow-up. In the intervention group, after the intervention, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between coping and functioning levels, as well as between quality of life and functioning levels (p < 0.05).

We concluded that motivational interviewing was effective in enhancing stress coping, improving functionality, and increasing quality of life in individuals with bipolar disorder. It is suggested that it is important for psychiatric nurses to be familiar with motivational interviewing techniques, and that this practice should be disseminated in psychiatric clinics.