An Experiential Account of Functioning During Remission in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: A Grounded Theory Approach.

Background: Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) experience considerable difficulty in functioning during remission as well. The actual lived experience of individuals with BD with respect to their functioning is not understood in the cultural context.

Methods: A qualitative approach in the form of interviews was taken from 11 participants who were diagnosed with BD in remission from a tertiary care hospital. The interviews were audio recorded and coded. Thematic analysis was carried out using a grounded theory approach to bring out relevant themes surrounding their inter-episodic functional limitations.

Results: The thematic analysis resulted in nine themes associated with the functioning, namely illness issues, treatment as an antidote, impact on self, relationship issues, coping strategies, disturbed cognitive functioning, stigma, occupational consequences, and dubious future.

Conclusions: The qualitative interview analysis provides a comprehensive picture of the experiences undergone by patients with BD. The themes and the sub-themes that came up in the analysis are reflective of the experiences of these individuals. The findings of the study can be utilized in planning effective interventions for remitted patients in the future so that functional limitations can be effectively addressed.