Emotion perception and quality of life in bipolar I disorder

Abstract

Background Across two studies we examined the role of emotion perception as a correlate of quality of life and occupational functioning in bipolar I disorder. Method In Study 1, we tested a multifactorial model of quality of life and occupational functioning, including the role of emotion perception and other established correlates of functional outcomes, among 42 participants diagnosed with bipolar I disorder. In Study 2, participants diagnosed with bipolar I disorder and age- and gender-matched controls completed an affect recognition task and a quality of life measure. Results Across both studies, emotion perception related to functional outcomes. In Study 1, self-rated emotion perception explained unique variance in subjective well-being after controlling for illness characteristics, education, and executive function. In Study 2, a behavioral measure of facial affect recognition accuracy was related to quality of life, even after controlling for illness severity. Limitations Limitations include the use of a cross-sectional design, relatively small sample sizes, and the focus on only one aspect of social cognition. Conclusions Findings indicate that emotion perception may protect quality of life in bipolar disorder. This dimension may help predict important outcomes and, with further research, could serve as a potential treatment target.

Longitudinal analysis of cognitive performances in recent‐onset and late‐life Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Bipolar Disorder (BD) is characterized by neurocognitive impairments even during periods of euthymia that were shown to be more salient in the domains of attention, executive functions, processing speed, working memory, and verbal memory . Further, these cognitive impairments have been consistently associated with poorer psychosocial functioning both in cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies …”

Poor quality of life and functioning in bipolar disorder

“…Individuals with bipolar disorder frequently experience lower quality of life and worse functioning than the general population (Abraham et al 2014; Sierra et al 2005; Sylvia et al 2013), even when not in a mood episode (Fulford et al 2014; Gazalle et al 2007; Shabani et al 2013). Moreover, those who experience a lower quality of life exhibit higher inter-episode impulsivity and more cognitive impairment as well as residual depressive and psychotic symptoms (Depp et al 2006; Victor et al 2011).…”

“…Social disadvantage is a composite measure composed of education level, employment status, income level, and occupational prestige (Duncan 1961). Bipolar disorder is associated with higher rates of unemployment and disability (Fulford et al 2014; Sanchez-Moreno et al 2009; Sylvia et al 2013), and greater social disadvantage has been associated with higher levels of stress, higher mortality, and decreased access to healthcare (Adler and Newman 2002; Brennan et al 2013; Mielck et al 2014). Thus, it remains unclear as regards the association of social disadvantage with quality of life and functioning in bipolar disorder.…”

Facial emotion recognition in childhood‐onset bipolar I disorder: an evaluation of developmental differences between youths and adults

“…Emotional facial expressions serve as critical social signals, with humans hard‐wired to have a neural response to faces from birth . Across numerous studies, adults with BD show deficits in facial emotion recognition compared to healthy comparison (HC) adults . Moreover, these deficits correlate with mood symptom severity, impairments in social functioning, and reduced quality of life , suggesting that altered facial emotion processing may be related to the functional impairments involved in BD.…”