The 11-year functional outcome of bipolar and major depressive disorders in Butajira, Ethiopia

•Long-term follow up studies of functioning in people with bipolar (type I) and major depressive disorders (BP and MDD) have not been reported from Africa.•The level of functions of people with BP and MDD were significantly lower than that of the general population both at baseline and during the follow-up period.•Although there were improvements in function with follow-up, a significant proportion had functional deficits during the follow-up period.