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Frequency of subsyndromal symptoms and employment status in patients with bipolar disorder

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Abstract

Objective

This study investigated the frequency of episodes and subsyndromal symptoms based on employment status in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods

Patients with bipolar disorder (n = 281) provided daily self-reported mood ratings for 5 months, returning 46,292 days of data. Data were analyzed using three employment status groups: disabled (n = 75), full-time employee or full-time student (n = 135), and other (n = 71). Demographic characteristics were compared by employment status. A univariate general linear model with employment status and other demographic variables as fixed factors and covariates was used to analyze the percent of days in episodes and percent of days with subsyndromal symptoms.

Results

While there was no significant difference in the percent of days in episodes among the employment groups, disabled patients suffered subsyndromal symptoms of depression twice as frequently as those in the full-time group. Disabled patients spent 15% more days either in episodes or with subsyndromal symptoms than those in the full-time group, equivalent to about 45 extra sick days a year.

Conclusion

Frequent subsyndromal symptoms, especially depressive, may preclude full-time responsibilities outside the home and contribute to disability in bipolar disorder. Additional treatments to reduce the frequency of subsyndromal symptoms are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Michael Bauer, Ute Lewitzka, Johanna Sasse & Eliza Kozuch-Krolik

  2. Dept. of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Michael Bauer & Peter C. Whybrow

  3. ChronoRecord Association Inc., Fullerton, CA, USA

    Tasha Glenn

  4. Mood Disorders Center of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Paul Grof

  5. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Paul Grof

  6. Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Natalie L. Rasgon

  7. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, USA

    Wendy Marsh

  8. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Kemal Sagduyu

  9. Dept. of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Martin Alda

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  1. Michael Bauer
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  2. Tasha Glenn
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  3. Paul Grof
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  4. Natalie L. Rasgon
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  5. Wendy Marsh
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  6. Kemal Sagduyu
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  7. Martin Alda
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  8. Ute Lewitzka
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  11. Peter C. Whybrow
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Correspondence to Michael Bauer.

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Bauer, M., Glenn, T., Grof, P. et al. Frequency of subsyndromal symptoms and employment status in patients with bipolar disorder. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 44, 515–522 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0464-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0464-4

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