Evaluation of the relationship between separation anxiety and functionality in patients with bipolar disorder

Objective: Our study was carried out to investigate the functional status of separation anxiety symptoms in bipolar disorder patients. Methods: A total of 104 patients, in the 18-65 age group, who were followed with bipolar disorder diagnosis at psychiatry policlinic of Derince Training and Research Hospital, were included into our study between the dates of September 2016 and May 2017. Interview form was used in collection of data along with the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory, Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire, Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire which were subjected to validity and reliability analysis previously. Data were evaluated with independent t test, Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U, ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests. Results: In the study, %67.3 of the cases with Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory score and %66.3 with Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire score were found high. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the total scores of Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory and Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the total scores of Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire and Bipolar Disorder Func-tioning Questionnaire and mental functionality, sexual functionality, domestic relations subscales of Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire. Conclusion: Our study found that anxiety symptoms in childhood or adulthood in bipolar disorder patients negatively affected many areas of functionality. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2019; 20(1.000): 60-67]