Quality of life (QoL) refers to an individual’s sense of satisfaction with their circumstances. This can be measured subjectively via interview and objectively via measures of overall health, social and material well-being and access to resources and opportunities. A key focus of QoL research in bipolar disorder is to identify factors that influence or predict a person’s satisfaction with their circumstances, which may then provide targets for therapeutic focus to improve QoL. The presence of acute psychiatric symptoms may contribute to lower QoL ratings. Other influential factors could include financial situation, living situation (homeless, living in a community setting or in a hospital), and perceived personal safety.

What is the evidence for quality of life?

Moderate quality evidence found quality of life was lower in people with bipolar disorder during euthymia (normal mood) compared to people without a psychiatric disorder. However, longer duration in euthymia results in better quality of life.

November 2021

Image: ©Dmitry – Fotolia – stock.adobe.com

The post Quality of life appeared first on NeuRA Library.