Psychosocial Predictors of Recurrence of Bipolar Disorder in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, about 13 % of the adult population is estimated to be affected by mental health disorders of varying forms of which bipolar is inclusive. Bipolar is a grave and long term mental health problem marked by recurring episodes of mania /hypomania and depression. This study therefore sought to determine the psychosocial factors influencing the recurrence bipolar disorder among patients in Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and Accra Psychiatric Hospital. Specifically, the sought to: evaluate the role of emotion regulation in predicting recurrence of bipolar disorder, explore the knowledge of patients on interpersonal communication and how it predicts recurrence of bipolar disorder, determine the relationship between stress and rate of recurrence of bipolar disorder and investigate the impact of social support as a predictor of recurrence of bipolar disorder. Employing a retrospective and cross-sectional survey design, data was conveniently collected from 217 participants. Participants were administered measures of social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), emotion regulation (Difficulties of Emotion Regulation Scale), interpersonal communication (Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). Data was evaluated using univariate logistic regression and bivariate analysis as well as through the computation of frequencies, and percentages. The study revealed that patients who had high stress levels, poor interpersonal communication skills and high difficulty in regulating their emotions had a higher rate of recurrence. In addition, it was found out that a staggering majority of 93% of the respondents had good support system in comparison to just 7% who had poor support. Based on these findings, the study concluded that psychosocial stressors played a major role in predicting recurrence and therefore much attention should be given to it just like the psychopharmacological treatment. Psychoeducation and psychotherapy should be aimed at helping patients gain mastery of regulating their emotions, learn adaptive ways of coping with stress, increase knowledge on interpersonal communication and keep encouraging strong social support systems in a bid to reduce incidence of recurrence of bipolar disorder