Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder

Abstract Background Cognitive performance is known to influence the functional level of psychiatric disorders in both the short and long term. This study aims to examine disability, social cognition, and the clinical and sociodemographic variables affecting both in individuals diagnosed with bipolar...

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Main Authors: Muhammet Sevindik, Aybüke Demir, Elif Erdem, Şerif Bora Nazlı
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07119-1
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author Muhammet Sevindik
Aybüke Demir
Elif Erdem
Şerif Bora Nazlı
author_facet Muhammet Sevindik
Aybüke Demir
Elif Erdem
Şerif Bora Nazlı
author_sort Muhammet Sevindik
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cognitive performance is known to influence the functional level of psychiatric disorders in both the short and long term. This study aims to examine disability, social cognition, and the clinical and sociodemographic variables affecting both in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) during the euthymic phase. Methods This cross-sectional study included 62 euthymic patients diagnosed with BD who attended the Mood Disorders Outpatient Clinic of the Psychiatry Department and agreed to participate. Data collection involved a sociodemographic information form, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and the Basic Empathy Scale (BES) to assess social cognition, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-2) to evaluate disability. Results A significant positive correlation was identified between RMET scores and educational level (r = 0.320, p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that age (β=-0.284; p = 0.025) and social support(β=-0.310; p = 0.008) had a significant negative impact on WHODAS-2 total scores, whereas having a first episode of depression compared to a first episode of mania had a significant positive impact on WHODAS-2 total scores (β = 0.281; p = 0.025). Conclusion The findings suggest that the onset of BD with a depressive episode and the lack of social support may be associated with disability even in the euthymic phase. The significant negative association between age and disability implies that increased awareness through psychoeducation and the development of appropriate coping strategies may contribute to reduced disability in later life. These results highlight the importance of early intervention and supportive factors in the management of BD.
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spelling doaj-art-575329f402344d9da2b651e63fc6a39c2025-08-20T04:02:55ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-07-0125111110.1186/s12888-025-07119-1Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorderMuhammet Sevindik0Aybüke Demir1Elif Erdem2Şerif Bora Nazlı3Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Ordu UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Ankara Etlik City HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Ankara Etlik City HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Health SciencesAbstract Background Cognitive performance is known to influence the functional level of psychiatric disorders in both the short and long term. This study aims to examine disability, social cognition, and the clinical and sociodemographic variables affecting both in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) during the euthymic phase. Methods This cross-sectional study included 62 euthymic patients diagnosed with BD who attended the Mood Disorders Outpatient Clinic of the Psychiatry Department and agreed to participate. Data collection involved a sociodemographic information form, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and the Basic Empathy Scale (BES) to assess social cognition, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-2) to evaluate disability. Results A significant positive correlation was identified between RMET scores and educational level (r = 0.320, p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that age (β=-0.284; p = 0.025) and social support(β=-0.310; p = 0.008) had a significant negative impact on WHODAS-2 total scores, whereas having a first episode of depression compared to a first episode of mania had a significant positive impact on WHODAS-2 total scores (β = 0.281; p = 0.025). Conclusion The findings suggest that the onset of BD with a depressive episode and the lack of social support may be associated with disability even in the euthymic phase. The significant negative association between age and disability implies that increased awareness through psychoeducation and the development of appropriate coping strategies may contribute to reduced disability in later life. These results highlight the importance of early intervention and supportive factors in the management of BD.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07119-1Bipolar disorderSocial cognitionTheory of mindDisability
spellingShingle Muhammet Sevindik
Aybüke Demir
Elif Erdem
Şerif Bora Nazlı
Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
BMC Psychiatry
Bipolar disorder
Social cognition
Theory of mind
Disability
title Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
title_full Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
title_fullStr Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
title_full_unstemmed Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
title_short Disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
title_sort disability and social cognition in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder
topic Bipolar disorder
Social cognition
Theory of mind
Disability
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07119-1
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