Comparison of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Bipolar Disorder with and without Guardianship Decision

Aim: We aimed to compare the sociodemographic and clinical variables of the patients with bipolar disorder (BD), who were required guardianship Materials and Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 201 patients with BD-1, aged between 18 and 65 years, who were sent to medical health board in order to prepare a report on whether guardianship was required by the courts. Sociodemographic and clinical variables data form including age, marital status, education, employment, the number of episodes, the history of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the type of medication, the number of hospitalization, and the history of suicide were used. Results: One-hundred (49.75%) patients with BD were required guardianship decision (GD). The mean age of the group with GD (43.57 +/- 11.53 years) was significantly higher than the group without GD (39.54 +/- 10.73 years). There was a significant relationship between GD and marital status and employment. The group with GD had significantly higher number of total and manic episodes, duration of hospitalization, and duration of illness than the group without GD. A significant relationship was found between GD and medical comorbidity, history of ECT, the presence of psychotic delusion, and treatment with antipsychotic, lithium and valproic acid. Paranoid-persecution, reference, and bizarre types of delusion were found to be related to GD. Conclusion: A significant relationship was found between GD and marital status, employment, duration of illness, number and duration of hospitalizations, number of total and manic episodes, medical comorbidity, and history of ECT, presence of psychotic delusions, and type of treatment. Clinicians should be aware of these variables during the decision of guardianship for patients with BD.