B-COS Gender Matters: Presenting the Profile of Females with Bipolar Disorder from an Australian Observational Study

  • Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Monash University, School of Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychological Medicine, Australia
  • Ms Kate Filia, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Monash University, School of Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychological Medicine, Australia
  • Professor Paul Fitzgerald, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Monash University, School of Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychological Medicine, Australia
  • Mr Anthony deCastella, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Monash University, School of Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychological Medicine, Australia
  • Mr Seetal Dodd, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • Dr Katarina Kelin, Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd, Australia
  • Mr William Montgomery, Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd, Australia
  • Professor Michael Berk, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    • Introduction: The Bipolar Comprehensive Outcomes Study (BCOS) is a 2-year, observational study of participants with bipolar I or schizoaffective disorder. The baseline data of 139 females (total n=239) provides a representation of the average woman with bipolar disorder living in an Australian setting.
    Aims: BCOS aims to assess clinical, functional, and economic outcomes associated with ‘real-life’ treatment.
    Methods: Participants are assessed 3-monthly using various measures, including the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAMD-21), and Clinical Global Impressions-Bipolar Version scale (CGI-BP). To examine quality of life, the EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), DIP (Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis) and SLICE/LIFE were used. At baseline, demographic data was also collected.
    Results: Of the 139 females, 32 had a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and 107 bipolar disorder. The average age of females at study entry was 42.2 years. Females were on average moderately depressed at baseline (HAMD-21 mean = 14.32), and experiencing minimal manic symptoms (YMRS mean = 7.2). 43.2% of women had a partner (married/defacto), 56.1% of women in the sample had children. Unemployment rates were 26% and of the remaining, 13% were employed full-time and 34% part-time. The majority of women earned between $200-$499 per week (68.3%). Less than half of participants were satisfied with their life in general (47%).
    Conclusion: A significant proportion of women with Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective disorder have difficulty maintaining intimate relations, have reduced levels of occupational functioning, relatively low levels of income and experience significant levels of depression.