Psychosocial Functioning in Depressive Patients: A Comparative Study between Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Affective Disorder

Abstract

Introduction. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar affective disorder (BAD) are among the leading causes of disability. These are often associated with widespread impairments in all domains of functioning including relational, occupational, and social. The main aim of the study was to examine and compare nature and extent of psychosocial impairment of patients with MDD and BAD during depressive phase. Methodology. 96 patients (48 in MDD group and 48 in BAD group) were included in the study. Patients were recruited in depressive phase (moderate to severe depression). Patients having age outside 18–45 years, psychotic symptoms, mental retardation, and current comorbid medical or axis-1 psychiatric disorder were excluded. Psychosocial functioning was assessed using Range of Impaired Functioning Tool (LIFE-RIFT). Results. Domains of work, interpersonal relationship, life satisfaction, and recreation were all affected in both groups, but the groups showed significant difference in global psychosocial functioning score only (P = 0.031) with BAD group showing more severe impairment. Conclusion. Bipolar depression causes higher global psychosocial impairment than unipolar depression.

The Level of Personality Functioning Scale Applied to Clinical Material From the Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO): Utility in Detecting Personality Pathology

“…In fact, we found that PD patients show moderate or more severe levels of impairment in self-direction, while patients with a main diagnosis of psychopathological conditions other than PDs show less severe difficulties in the same domain. Again, previous studies showed that patients with major depressive disorder may manifest difficulties in maintaining goals and in achieving satisfactory job performance (Adler et al, 2006;Mehta et al, 2014;Zimmerman et al, 2008), and that adolescents with high anxiety symptoms have trouble maintaining self-commitment (Crocetti, Klimstra, Keijsers, Hale, & Meeus, 2009). However, the differences we found in severity levels of impairment in self-direction between patients with and without PDs might be not only quantitative but also qualitative in nature.…”

“…On the other hand, we expect that psychopathological conditions in general (both PDs and other clinical conditions) will be associated with impairments in personality functioning to some extent. In fact, research suggests that individuals with psychopathologies other than PDs, especially patients with mood disorders, may show some difficulties in the sense of self-continuity (Sokol & Serper, 2017), achieving goals (Mehta, Mittal, & Swami, 2014), and empathizing with others (Schreiter, Pijnenborg, & Aan Het Rot, 2013). However, we expect to find more severe impairments in the PD group, as compared to patients with other psychopathological conditions.…”

Disaggregating the predictive effects of impaired psychosocial functioning on future DSM‐5 eating disorder onset in high‐risk female adolescents

“…Psychosocial functioning has been defined as a person's ability to successfully interact with their environment, which includes building and maintaining gratifying relationships with family members, partners, and peers and appropriately responding to societal demands at school, work, and other social settings (Mehta, Mittal, & Swami, ). Though impaired psychosocial functioning has been found to be a consequence of eating disorders (Bohn et al, ; Lynch et al, ) persistent even after recovery (Herzog, Pepose, Norman, & Rigotti, ; Wentz, Gillberg, Anckarsater, Gillberg, & Rastam, ), to our knowledge only two studies have investigated impaired psychosocial functioning as a putative risk factor that predicts future eating disorder onset (Jacobi et al, ; Stice, Gau, Rohde, & Shaw, ).…”

Familial relationships perceived by parents and adolescent depression: Psychosocial functioning moderating effect

“…Most researches study the relationship between development of depression and deterioration of PF (e.g., Greer et al, 2010;Fried & Nesse, 2014;Harrington & Vostanis, 1995;Lewinsohn, Rohde, Seeley, Klein, & Gotlib, 2003;Mehta, Mittal, & Swami, 2014;Puig-Antich et al, 1993). However, studies like the one from Lewinsohn et al (1994Lewinsohn et al ( , 1998 stressed out the importance of assessing psychosocial characteristics of adolescents in risk of developing depression, in order to prevent it.…”

“…Impairment can occur globally or in multiple domains, such as at work/school, in recreational activities/hobbies, in satisfaction with life and in interpersonal relationships (Costa, 2011;Fergusson & Woodward, 2002;Goldstein et al, 2009;Greer et al, 2010;Lewinsohn et al, 1994;Mehta et al, 2014). Some studies examine separately the relationship of these dimensions with depression.…”