Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2013 Jul;24(3):124-128.

The Factors Influencing Bipolar Spectrum Disorders among Elderly in a Small and Medium-Sized City: A Preliminary Study

• Jang SH
• Lee HJ
• Lee DB
• Lee SY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder and to analyze the factors influencing on bipolar spectrum disorders.
METHODS
Data of this study was collected from over 65 years old who were located in Ik-san, Jeollabuk-do province. 320 data sheets were collected among them 300 were used in analysis. All of subjects were evaluated for the bipolar spectrum disorder, self-esteem, social support, stress with Korean version of Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Scale of Social Support (SSS), Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument Korean Version (BEPSI-K). We compared bipolar spectrum disorder among multiple factors and analyzed multiple regression with bipolar spectrum disorder as criterion variables and demographic characteristics.
RESULTS
The prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder in elderly was 3.3%. There were significant differences in result of the test about the bipolar spectrum disorder figuring out from sex (chi2=-2.058, p<0.01), sleep (t=-1.125, p<0.05). There were significant relation among bipolar spectrum disorder with stress (r=0.242, p<0.01), social support (r=-0.127, p<0.05), sleep (r=-0.136, p<0.05) and self esteem (r=-0.052, p<0.05). These factors accounted for 9.2% of bipolar spectrum disorder.
CONCLUSION
These results showed that the most important variable that influencing on bipolar spectrum disorders was stress.

Keyword

Elderly; Bipolar disorders; Stress

MeSH Terms

Aged
Bipolar Disorder
Humans
Mood Disorders
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Self Concept