Bipolar disorder and perceived social support: relation with clinical course, and the role of suicidal behaviour

Objective: The objective in this study was to analyse the effects of the perceived social support from the family, friends and other important people in the lives of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) in remission on clinical course and suicidal behaviour in a multidimensional model.

Method: The study conducted 100 patients diagnosed with BD-1(remission) according to DSM-5. All participants were administered Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support(MSPSS), Young Mani Rating Scale(YMRS), Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-SADS,) Mood Disorder Diagnosis and Monitoring Form(SKIP-TURK), and Global Assessment of Functioning(GAF).

Results: There was a significant negative correlation between the duration of untreated period (DUP), episodes length, illness duration, subthreshold depressive symptoms and their MSPSS scores (p < .05). There was a significant difference in the MSPSS total scores (not subscales) between the two groups divided according to suicidal behaviour (p = .03). There was a significant positive correlation between the GAF scores and the all MSPSS subscales scores. GAF and MSPSS friends_subscale scores were found to be predictors for suicide behaviour (respectively;Wald = 4.81, p = .028, OR = .93, %95 CI = 0.88-0.99;Wald = 4.71, p = .03, OR = 1.08, % 95 CI = 1,01–1,16).

Conclusion: This study indicates that there are significant relationships between suicide attempts, DUP, episode length, subthreshold depressive symptoms, functioning and multidimensionally perceived social support. The fact that suicide attempt is related to total score and not to subscale scores of perceived social support shows the importance of the coexistence of all dimensions in the perceived social support area and emphasizes the necessity of examining these dimensions as a whole. Meanwhile, it is observed that the perceived friend_support along with functioning is associated with suicidal behaviour in BD.