The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this comorbidity on the bipolar disorder prognosis and the bipolar patients’ quality of life.
Methods
We performed a transversal study beside outpatients aged twenty or more and who fulfilled both DSM-IV criteria of bipolar I or II disorder and DSM-IV criteria of total remission. Patients were recruited from two psychiatry consultation sites in Tunisia.We excluded from the study patients who had a mental retardation or a cognitive impairment.
We screened for personality disorders using the criteria of the DSM-IV and we assessed the Quality of life using the « MOS SF-36 ». Results
We recruited 118 participants. The mean age of the sample was of 40±8,6 years and the gender ratio (M/F) was of 0,73. The mean level of education was of 8,5 years. 22% (n = 26) of the sample had a personality disorder. 30 % of them had a borderline personality disorder. The personality disorder comorbidity was associated with suicidal attempts (p=0,015), problem with justice (p = 0,005), alcohol and substance use (p = 0,002) and number of hospitalisation during progression of the illness (p = 0,011).
Quality of life was impaired among bipolar patients with personality disorder comorbidity (p = 0,004).
Conclusion
Personality disorders impair both prognosis and quality of life of bipolar patients. More attention should be given to young bipolar patients with impulsive behaviours, like suicide attempts, dangerous conduct or aggressive behaviours.