Development of the QoL.BD: a disorder-specific scale to assess quality of life in bipolar disorder
October 5th, 2011 by webadmin
Development of the QoL.BD: a disorder-specific scale to assess quality of life in bipolar disorder
Quality of life (QoL) in people living with bipolar disorder is often measured using rates of relapse or degree of symptom reduction. Although useful, these objective measures do not take into account an individual’s culture, value systems, goals, expectations, standards and concerns. Subjective measures (based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions), such as QoL scales may provide people with BD insights into health and treatment. The assessment of QoL in clinical practice may also help health professionals optimise treatment.
CREST.BD members Erin Michalak and Greg Murray have now completed a four-year program of research to develop the first disorder-specific measure of QoL for people with bipolar disorder. Fifty-two interviews with individuals with bipolar disorder, their families and field experts were conducted to generate items, or questions, for the scale. The potential items were then subjected to a series of further statistical tests, resulting in both brief (12-item) and full (56-item) versions of the “Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder (QoL.BD) scale. Field testing demonstrated that the QoL.BD is a reliable and potentially useful instrument. The developers are keen to see the QoL.BD, which is in the public domain, undergo further testing in research and clinical settings.
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