Perceived Health and Social Status of the Caregivers of Individuals with Bipolar Mood Disorder

Abstract

Background: Caregivers of individuals with bipolar mood disorder (BMD) experience marked difficulties that affect their physical, psychological, social, and environmental health. Despite these difficulties, few studies have been conducted in Bangladesh to understand caregivers' health and social status. Aim: To assess the perceived health and social status of the caregivers of patients with BMD and determine the variables that predict their quality of life. Method: This cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bangladesh. A total of 110 primary caregivers who met specific inclusion criteria were recruited. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using the WHOQOL-BREF tool, as well as socio-demographic and caregiving-related information. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to evaluate associations between QoL and socio-demographic variables (SPSS v21). Results: Caregivers reported the poorest outcomes in the psychological domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (mean = 44.84, SD = ±11.57). 79.1% of caregivers rated their quality of life as “poor,” and 13.6% rated it as “very poor.” Physical (mean = 52.30, SD = ±12.64), social (mean = 59.88, SD = ±16.26), and environmental (mean = 53.08, SD = ±11.86) domains showed relatively better scores. Statistical analysis showed no significant associations between QoL domains and age, gender, education, marital status, occupation, caregiving duration, or external support (p > 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in the environmental domain based on geographic location (urban vs. rural; p = 0.029), with urban caregivers reporting better outcomes. Conclusion: Significant psychological and social challenges have been reported among caregivers of BMD individuals in Bangladesh. Targeted interventions such as psychoeducation, mental health support, and social resource provision are essential to improving their QoL. Future research should investigate the longitudinal effects of such programs and evaluate the efficacy of tailored interventions to support caregivers in diverse settings. Keywords: Bipolar Mood Disorder, caregivers, QoL, WHOQOL-BREF, mental health, Bangladesh