Comparisons of perceived quality of life across clinical states in bipolar disorder: data from the first 2000 Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) participants

BackgroundEvidence indicates that quality of life is subnormal in patients with bipolar disorder and that it differs across mood states. However, the pattern of specific deficits has not been well studied, and the role of potential confounders has received no attention.MethodWe investigated the self-reported quality of life, Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction (QLESQ) at baseline across the clinical states of the first 2000 participants enrolled in Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder.ResultsBivariate analyses indicated significant differences across mood state, with depressive symptoms predicting lower SF-36 mental and physical scores and QLESQ overall score. However, adjustment for relevant clinical and demographic variables erased the difference in the SF-36 physical score. Notably, covariate adjustment removed the apparently “supranormal” SF-36 mental and QLESQ scores among those with mania/hypomania compared with those euthymic.ConclusionDepressive symptoms are a strong predictor of quality of life, yet covariate adjustment has an impact as well. Clinically, this indicates the need for addressing these factors if quality of life is to be maximized. Such factors should also be taken into account in future naturalistic and clinical trials research on quality of life in bipolar disorder.