A Retrospective Study of the Influence of Life Events and Social Support on Relapses and Recurrences in Older Patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Background/

Objectives

Life events and lack of social support are risk factors for a relapse or recurrence in patients with a bipolar disorder, yet studies focusing on older adults remain limited. Our aim was to investigate the influence of life events and social support on the course of bipolar disorder in older adults.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study included patients aged 55 years and older in treatment for bipolar disorder and who used lithium. During a follow-up of maximum 5 years, relapses and recurrences, life events and six social support variables were constructed based on patients' electronic medical files.

Results

We included 100 older patients with a mean age of 68.1 (SD 8.6) years; 69% were female. At least one relapse or recurrence was observed within the 5 years of observation in 52% of our patients. Life events were noted in the medical files in 24 out of these 52 (46.2%) patients. Living alone, a lower quality of social support and having at least two children was significantly associated with the onset of a relapse or recurrence (p = 0.024, p < 0.001, p = 0.022, respectively).

Conclusions

Older adults with bipolar disorder have a high rate of relapses or recurrences within 5 years of observation, and half of the relapses or recurrences were preceded by life events. Social factors may also play a significant role in the onset of relapses and recurrences. Our results underline the necessity for incorporating social and environmental factors into prevention of relapses or recurrences for older bipolar patients.