Quality of life refers to our levels of personal satisfaction with life across various domains. By measuring quality of life, we can help people who live with BD clarify which domains of their life might need attention, we can assist clinicians in defining goals for treatment, and support research to understand the effects of different treatments. The Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder scale (QoL.BD) is the first quality of life questionnaire specifically designed for people with bipolar disorder. For full information about the QoL.BD and its development see our publication “Development of the QoL.BD: a disorder-specific scale to assess quality of life in bipolar disorder” in Bipolar Disorders, 2010: 12: 727–740.
Watch Dr. Greg Murray as he describes the development of the QoL.BD scale, and explains its use and analysis.
There are three options for using the QoL.BD:
Individuals – People with bipolar disorder can learn to undertake a self-assessment of QoL. After completing the scale, the results will outline implications that an individual with bipolar disorder can draw from their profile of scores.
Clinicians – Learn more about why we think it is important to measure quality of life in clinical practice by reviewing “A clinician’s guide to psychosocial functioning and quality of life in bipolar disorder“, published in the Practical Management of Bipolar Disorder book.
Researchers – See Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorders (QoL.BD) Scale FAQs for frequently asked questions about the scale and its administration.
PDF versions of the brief and full versions of the scale are available for download below.
Download the QoL.BD Scale in English
The Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorders (QoL.BD) Scale is available for download in two formats:
- Long Form – Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorders (QoL.BD) Scale
- Short Form – Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorders (QoL.BD) Scale
New! Download the QoL.BD Scale in Korean
New! Download the QoL.BD Scale in Turkish
This project is one component of a 2-year Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Knowledge-to-Action project awarded to CREST.BD researchers in 2009. Learn more about all three components of this translational research study.