Abstract:
In Ghana, about 13 % of the adult population is estimated to be affected by
mental health disorders of varying forms of which bipolar is inclusive. Bipolar
is a grave and long term mental health problem marked by recurring episodes
of mania /hypomania and depression. This study therefore sought to determine
the psychosocial factors influencing the recurrence bipolar disorder among
patients in Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
Specifically, the sought to: evaluate the role of emotion regulation in
predicting recurrence of bipolar disorder, explore the knowledge of patients on
interpersonal communication and how it predicts recurrence of bipolar
disorder, determine the relationship between stress and rate of recurrence of
bipolar disorder and investigate the impact of social support as a predictor of
recurrence of bipolar disorder. Employing a retrospective and cross-sectional
survey design, data was conveniently collected from 217 participants.
Participants were administered measures of social support (Multidimensional
Scale of Perceived Social Support), emotion regulation (Difficulties of
Emotion Regulation Scale), interpersonal communication (Interpersonal
Communication Skills Inventory), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). Data
was evaluated using univariate logistic regression and bivariate analysis as
well as through the computation of frequencies, and percentages. The study
revealed that patients who had high stress levels, poor interpersonal
communication skills and high difficulty in regulating their emotions had a
higher rate of recurrence. In addition, it was found out that a staggering
majority of 93% of the respondents had good support system in comparison to
just 7% who had poor support. Based on these findings, the study concluded
that psychosocial stressors played a major role in predicting recurrence and
therefore much attention should be given to it just like the
psychopharmacological treatment. Psychoeducation and psychotherapy should
be aimed at helping patients gain mastery of regulating their emotions, learn
adaptive ways of coping with stress, increase knowledge on interpersonal
communication and keep encouraging strong social support systems in a bid to
reduce incidence of recurrence of bipolar disorder
