The Correlation between Depression, Anxiety and Treatment Motivation in Patients with Affective Disorder

Abstract

Background: The relationship between affective disorder and symptoms of anxiety and depression is very complex. Although a variety of self-report measures are beginning to be utilized to access anxiety and depression in patients with affective disorder. Also evidence shows that individuals with affective disorder experience better functioning and reduced symptom if they follow recommended psychiatric treatment. Learning to live with a continuous, episodic illness is a huge challenge for people with bipolar disorder and their family.

Objective: The relationship between affective disorder and symptoms of anxiety and depression is very complex. Although a variety of self-report measures are beginning to be utilized to access anxiety and depression in patients with affective disorder. Also evidence shows that individuals with affective disorder experience better functioning and reduced symptom if they follow recommended psychiatric treatment

Methods: The study involved 80 patients (32 males, 48 females) with an average age 44,5 years, hospitalized in the Psychiatric Hospital in Skopje and the Department of Psychiatry of Clinical Hospital in Tetovo, with a clinical diagnosis of affective disorder. The diagnosis of affective disorder is set against the classification DSM – V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder). All subjects were under adequate psychopharmacological treatment. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Treatment Motivation Questionnaire (TMQ) were applied to the entire population.

Results: From the results it is evidenced that the patients with affective disorder have higher scores on the HAM-A and HAM-D. The correlation was positively significant at the level of 0.01. Also there was significant relationship between treatment motivation and the type of disorder (F_{, 2, 77} = 11.902; p<0.00).

Conclusions: Depression and anxiety are common in patients with affective disorder and can interfere with their response to treatment.

Key words: Affective Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Treatment Motivation, Quality of Life