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Attitudes towards childbearing, causal attributions for bipolar disorder and psychological distress: a study of families with multiple cases of bipolar disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2007

BETTINA MEISER ,
PHILIP B. MITCHELL ,
NADINE A. KASPARIAN ,
KIM STRONG ,
JUDY M. SIMPSON ,
SHAB MIRESKANDARI ,
LAILA TABASSUM  and
PETER R. SCHOFIELD
BETTINA MEISER*
Affiliation:
Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
PHILIP B. MITCHELL
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
NADINE A. KASPARIAN
Affiliation:
Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
KIM STRONG
Affiliation:
Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia
JUDY M. SIMPSON
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
SHAB MIRESKANDARI
Affiliation:
Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW, Australia Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
LAILA TABASSUM
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
PETER R. SCHOFIELD
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, NSW, Australia School of Medical Science, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Bettina Meiser, Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Sydney, Australia. (Email: b.meiser@unsw.edu.au)
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Abstract

Background

For families with multiple cases of bipolar disorder this study explored: attitudes towards childbearing; causal attributions for bipolar disorder, in particular the degree to which a genetic model is endorsed and its impact on the perceived stigma of bipolar disorder; and predictors of psychological distress.

Method

Two hundred individuals (95 unaffected and 105 affected with either bipolar disorder, schizo-affective disorder – manic type, or recurrent major disorder) were surveyed, using mailed, self-administered questionnaires.

Results

Thirty-five (35%) participants reported being ‘not at all willing to have children’ or ‘less willing to have children’ as a result of having a strong family history of bipolar disorder. Being not at all or less willing to have children was associated with perceived stigma of bipolar disorder [odds ratio (OR) 2·42, p=0·002], endorsement of a genetic model (OR 1·76, p=0·046), and being affected (OR 2·16, p=0·01). Among unaffected participants only, endorsement of a genetic model was strongly correlated with perceived stigma (rs=0·30, p=0·004). Perceiving the family environment as an important factor in causing bipolar disorder was significantly associated with psychological distress (OR 1·58, p=0·043) among unaffected participants. Among affected participants, perceived stigma was significantly correlated with psychological distress (OR 2·44, p=0·02), controlling for severity of symptoms (p<0·001).

Conclusions

Having a genetic explanation for bipolar disorder may exacerbate associative stigma among unaffected members from families with multiple cases of bipolar disorder, while it does not impact on perceived stigma among affected family members. Affected family members may benefit from interventions to ameliorate the adverse effects of perceived stigma.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 37 , Issue 11 , November 2007 , pp. 1601 - 1611
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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