Notre objectif est d’évaluer la qualité de vie d’une population de conjoints de patients bipolaires comparativement à celle d’une population témoin.

Nous avons comparé 30 conjoints de patients suivis pour trouble bipolaire I selon les critères de DSM IV à un second groupe de 30 témoins appartenant à la population générale. Les deux groupes étaient appariés selon l’âge, le sexe, le statut marital et le niveau socioéconomique. L’évaluation de la qualité de vie a été réalisée par la passation de l’échelle de qualité de vie : SF-36.

La qualité de vie des conjoints de patients bipolaires était significativement plus altérée que celle du groupe témoin aussi bien dans l’approche catégorielle (60 % vs 40 %) que dans l’approche dimensionnelle (51,1 vs 68,2).

Notre étude confirme l’impact négatif de la maladie bipolaire sur l’entourage du patient. Le fait d’être le conjoint de ce patient apparaît comme un facteur de risque important.

Des mesures doivent être proposées pour améliorer la qualité de vie du conjoint de bipolaire.

To assess the quality of life of a population of spouses of bipolar patients compared with a control population.

We conducted a cross-sectional study which included two groups: a group of 30 spouses of patients followed for bipolar I disorder according to DSM IV criteria and a second group of 30 subjects from the general population. Both groups were matched by age, sex, marital status and socioeconomic level. This device was designed to limit the differences between the two groups solely those of the bipolar illness. Evaluating the quality of life was achieved using the quality of life scale: SF-36. This is a scale that has already been translated and validated in dialect Arabic.

Regarding sociodemographic variables, the two study groups differed only for: recreation, friendly relations and the couple relationship that included more and better skills among the control group. In the categorical approach, the quality of life was impaired in 60% of spouses and 40% of controls with a statistically significant difference. The following standardized dimensions: mental health (D4), limitation due to mental health (D5), life and relationship with others (D6) and perceived health (D8) and mental component (CM) were significantly altered in patients’ spouses compared to controls. We found significant differences between the two groups for: overall average score (51.1 vs. 68.2), mental health (D4), limitation due to mental health (D5), life and relationship with others (D6), perceived health (D8) and perceived health (D8) standards.

The impairment of quality of life of bipolar patients’ spouses is related to the extra responsibility, stress, financial problems and health problems, stigma, and loss of security of the person loved.

Considering the consequences that the appearance of bipolar disorder on the patient’s spouse may have, certain measures must be proposed to improve their quality of life.