A Comparative Study of Clinical Characteristics, Course of Illness, Substance Use Pattern and Quality Of Life between Patients with Bipolar and Unipolar Depression
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30834/KJP.38.1.2025.506Keywords:
Unipolar Depression, Bipolar Depression, Clinical characteristics, Quality of life, DSM-5Abstract
Background: Distinguishing between unipolar and bipolar depression is critical for effective management. This study aims to compare the clinical characteristics, illness trajectory, substance use patterns, and quality of life in patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.
Methods: A cross-sectional study including 140 patients diagnosed with unipolar or bipolar depression per DSM-5 criteriawas conducted. Participants were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. Socio-demographic and clinical data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: Patients with Bipolar Depression (BD) had significantly higher symptom severity, with mean HDRS scores of 21.59 (SD = 5.05) compared to 17.64 (SD = 4.43) in Unipolar Depression (UD) (p < 0.001), and BPRS scores of 44.10 (SD = 7.99) vs. 37.91 (SD = 8.55), respectively (p < 0.001). Psychotic symptoms were more common in the BD group (64.3%) compared to the UD group (34.3%) (p< 0.001). Regarding the course of illness, BD patients had an earlier age of onset (mean = 25.61 years, SD = 7.31) than UD patients (mean = 36.23 years, SD = 8.04; p < 0.001), a greater number of depressive episodes (p < 0.001), longer average duration of episodes (p = 0.009), and more frequent hospitalizations (p < 0.001). In terms of quality of life, psychological domain scores were significantly lower in the BD group (mean = 41.63, SD = 13.47) compared to the UD group (mean = 48.71, SD = 13.34; p = 0.004).
Conclusion: Bipolar depression presents with greater severity, recurrence, and psychotic symptoms, impacting overall psychological well-being.
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Copyright (c) 2025 M Goutham Kiran , Roy Abraham Kallivayalil, Joice Geo (Author)
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