Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL AND MARITAL CHARACTERISTICS ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF MARRIAGES AND SEX OF INDIVIDUALS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) disrupts functionality in all fields of life. While being married may have  a positive effect on the disease, marriage itself, the most significant factor of social support, is negatively influenced by BD. Our purpose is to determine whether affective symptoms are related to the decision-making processes associated with getting married or divorced, and  to investigate sex differences in these processes in patients with BD. Methods: A total of 113 women and 92 male patients were included in the study. Two semi-structured questionnaires, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were used. Analysis was done by dividing the data by two groups for sex and by three groups for  the number of marriages. Results: The number of marriages and divorces occurring during a mood episode was higher among females (p=0.004, p=0.001 respectively).  For those who were not married, the onset age of BD was earliest (p<0.001). Among  those who were married twice or more, they had mixed episodes, used antipsychotics,  were first married at an earliest age, married or divorced during a mood episode, and their divorce rate due to BD was higher (p=0.032, p=0.016, p=0.006, p=<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Not marrying or marrying more than once may be associated with negative prognostic factors. Females with BD are more likely to divorce due to BD and remarried. For both sexs, it seems more frequent to decide on marriage during  the manic episode.