Psychosocial correlates of subsyndromal symptoms and functioning of bipolar patients stabilized on prophylactic lithium

Abstract

Sixty-eight bipolar patients in remission on lithium prophylaxis with adequate serum lithium levels were cross-sectionally studied to assess the relation of certain psychosocial variables (life events, social support and daily hassles) with psychopathology and psychosocial functioning. The daily hassles and number of life events were found to have significant positive correlation with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores while perceived social support score had significant negative correlation with general psychopathology score. In stepwise multiple regression analyses, psychosocial variables taken together explained 7% - 23% of variance in psychopathology and global functioning of these patients. We conclude that psychosocial variables may have a modest but significant relation with the clinical and psychosocial functioning of bipolar patients stabilized on lithium prophylaxis.

Keywords: Bipolar disorder; lithium; psychopathology; social support; stressful events.