Psychopathology and coping behaviors among wives of patients with bipolar affective disorder

Abstract

Background: Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) is a challenging psychiatric illness which burdens both the patient as well as the caregiver. As a consequence, many psychiatric symptoms are reported in the spouses and caregivers of patients with BPAD. Caregivers adopt various coping behaviors to tackle their stress and overcome these situations. The objective is to study psychopathology and coping strategies among wives of inpatients with BPAD admitted under the psychiatry department of a tertiary care teaching institute. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was done at the inpatient wards of the Department of Psychiatry of Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute, Kerala. The sample size was 70 and the study duration was 18 months. After approval from the institutional ethics committee, the study was done. Psychopathology was assessed using Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) and psychiatric morbidity using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (Mini-Plus). Coping behavior was assessed using Brief-COPE. Results: Most commonly reported psychopathology was reduced sleep (71.4%). Nearly three-fourth were having psychiatric morbidity, with a majority having adjustment disorder – brief depressive reaction. The most commonly used coping behaviors were approach coping/problem-focused coping rather than avoidant coping. Conclusion: From this study, it was found that the majority of the wives of patients with BPAD had depressive symptoms and most of them were diagnosed to have adjustment disorder. Therefore, while planning the management of patients with BPAD we have to ensure that adequate psychosocial support is being provided to their primary caregivers also.

Keywords

• bipolar affective disorder
• psychopathology
• coping