Psychiatric symptoms during the COVID‐19 outbreak in older adults with bipolar disorder

• Published in: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 892 - 900
• Main Authors: Orhan, Melis, Korten, Nicole, Paans, Nadine, de Walle, Bodine, Kupka, Ralph, van Oppen, Patricia, Kok, Almar, Sonnenberg, Caroline, Schouws, Sigfried, Dols, Annemiek
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder; COVID-19; Geriatric psychiatry; mental health; Neurosis; older patients; Older people; Outbreaks; pandemic; psychiatric symptoms; Quality of life; social; COVID-19; older patients; bipolar disorder; psychiatric symptoms; social; mental health; pandemic
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.5489

Objectives Older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) are vulnerable for a COVID‐19 infection via multiple pathways. It is essential for OABD to adhere to the COVID‐19 measures, with potential consequences for the psychiatric symptoms. This situation offers the unique opportunity to investigate factors of vulnerability and resilience that are associated with psychiatric symptoms in OABD. Methods This study included 81 OABD patients aged over 50 years. Factors measured at baseline in patients that participated in 2017/2018 were compared with factors measured during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Results Participants experienced less psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 than (67.9% euthymic) than at baseline (40.7% euthymic). There was no difference in loneliness between COVID‐19 and baseline. Not having children, more feelings of loneliness, lower mastery, passive coping style and neuroticism were associated with more psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 measures. Conclusions Participants experienced less psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 measures when compared to baseline. Our results indicate promising targets for psychological interventions aimed at curing and preventing recurrence in OABD and improving quality of life in this growing vulnerable group. Key Points COVID‐19 offers the unique opportunity to investigate factors of vulnerability and resilience that are associated with psychiatric symptoms in older age patients with bipolar disorder (BD) Older adults with BD experienced less psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 measures when compared to baseline There was no difference in loneliness between the COVID‐19 wave and baseline Not having children, more feelings of loneliness, lower mastery, a passive coping style and neuroticism were associated with more psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 measures