Emma Morton1, Erin E Michalak2, Greg Murray3. 1. Swinburne University of Technology, Psychological Sciences and Statistics, Australia. 2. University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Canada. 3. Swinburne University of Technology, Psychological Sciences and Statistics, Australia. Electronic address: gwmurray@swin.edu.au.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is increasingly investigated in bipolar disorders (BD) research, yet little attention has been paid to its optimal definition and measurement. This is a significant limitation, as the broader QoL literature recognises a number of divergent meanings and measurement tensions. The aim here was to advance understanding of QoL in BD by clarifying use of the construct in the existing literature and considering measurement implications. METHODS: Thematic analysis techniques were used to interrogate articles identified via systematic search for (a) explicit discussion of QoL definitional/measurement issues, and (b) usage of the term QoL. RESULTS: A total of 275 articles were included in the analysis. A range of definitional and methodological issues confounding the study of QoL in BD were identified. While explicit definition of QoL proved rare, thematic analysis of usage of the construct revealed the concepts of functioning, health, subjective experience and wellbeing were thought to be relevant to QoL in BD. LIMITATIONS: The review does not engage in top-down theory development. Our analysis was grounded in the empirical literature to support future theoretical work relevant to existing usage of QoL in BD. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence of a consensus definition of QoL in BD. A plurality of QoL definitions is not necessarily a flaw in the literature, but points to empirical and conceptual issues demanding attention. Awareness of the diversity of constructs associated with QoL will enable clinicians to better select treatments on the basis of specific QoL outcomes. A research agenda and provisional considerations for empirical research are outlined based on the present analyses.
BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is increasingly investigated in bipolar disorders (BD) research, yet little attention has been paid to its optimal definition and measurement. This is a significant limitation, as the broader QoL literature recognises a number of divergent meanings and measurement tensions. The aim here was to advance understanding of QoL in BD by clarifying use of the construct in the existing literature and considering measurement implications. METHODS: Thematic analysis techniques were used to interrogate articles identified via systematic search for (a) explicit discussion of QoL definitional/measurement issues, and (b) usage of the term QoL. RESULTS: A total of 275 articles were included in the analysis. A range of definitional and methodological issues confounding the study of QoL in BD were identified. While explicit definition of QoL proved rare, thematic analysis of usage of the construct revealed the concepts of functioning, health, subjective experience and wellbeing were thought to be relevant to QoL in BD. LIMITATIONS: The review does not engage in top-down theory development. Our analysis was grounded in the empirical literature to support future theoretical work relevant to existing usage of QoL in BD. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence of a consensus definition of QoL in BD. A plurality of QoL definitions is not necessarily a flaw in the literature, but points to empirical and conceptual issues demanding attention. Awareness of the diversity of constructs associated with QoL will enable clinicians to better select treatments on the basis of specific QoL outcomes. A research agenda and provisional considerations for empirical research are outlined based on the present analyses.
Authors: Adrienne Nevola; Michael E Morris; Holly C Felix; Teresa Hudson; Nalin Payakachat; J Mick Tilford Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2020-11-19 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Martin D Provencher; Emma Morton; Anne Sophie Beaudoin; Judith Guillemette; Evelyne Rheault; Chantal Mérette; Laurent Coque; Lisa D Hawke; Erin E Michalak Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2020-08-12 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: Emma Morton; Venkat Bhat; Peter Giacobbe; Wendy Lou; Erin E Michalak; Shane McInerney; Trisha Chakrabarty; Benicio N Frey; Roumen V Milev; Daniel J Müller; Sagar V Parikh; Susan Rotzinger; Sidney H Kennedy; Raymond W Lam Journal: CNS Drugs Date: 2021-04-16 Impact factor: 5.749
Authors: Caterina Del Mar Bonnín; María Reinares; Anabel Martínez-Arán; Esther Jiménez; Jose Sánchez-Moreno; Brisa Solé; Laura Montejo; Eduard Vieta Journal: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol Date: 2019-08-01 Impact factor: 5.176
Authors: Erin E Michalak; Steven J Barnes; Emma Morton; Heather L O'Brien; Greg Murray; Rachelle Hole; Denny Meyer Journal: JMIR Res Protoc Date: 2022-08-04
Authors: Françoise Jermann; Nader Perroud; Sophie Favre; Jean-Michel Aubry; Hélène Richard-Lepouriel Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2021-07-14 Impact factor: 4.147