Health-Related Quality of Life in Thai Bipolar Disorder
Ronnachai Kongsakon MD, LLB, MSc*, Prakarn Thomyangkoon MD**, Buranee Kanchanatawan MD, MSc***, Suthiporn Janenawasin MD****
Affiliation : * Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok ** Department of Psychiatry, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University Bangkok *** Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok **** Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
Background : Bipolar disorder (BPD) affects both patients’ functioning and well-being. Quality of life (QoL)
has gained increasing attention as an important functional outcome in BPD. The present study was conducted
to assess QoL of Thai BPD patients.
Material and Method: The authors obtained cross-sectional demographic, clinical, and functional ratings
from 285 BPD outpatients. SF-36 and Thai Mania Rating Scale (TMRS) were used to assess QoL and severity
of symptoms respectively.
Results : The mean TMRS was 4.42 + 5.87. Compared with the Thai general population, SF-36 scores of study
population were significantly lower, except for bodily pain and social functioning domains. Sodium valproate
treated group’s SF-36 scores was better than lithium carbonate treated group’s (p = 0.02).
Conclusion : The present study is one of the pioneers in assessing the impact of co-morbidity on health-related
QoL in Thai BPD patients. Even in the stable phase, patients were less functioning than the normal Thai
population.
Keywords : Bipolar disorder, Health-related quality of life, SF-36, Lithium, Sodium valproate
