Quality of Life Among Caregivers of Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

Quality of Life (QOL) has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and the value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. It is a broad ranging concept incorporating in a complex way the person's physical health, psychological state, level of independence, social relationships, personal beliefs and their relationship to salient features of the environment (who.int/healthinfo/survey/whoqol- ualityoflife/en/) QoL is one of the most important components involved in delivering an integral service to an ill person and their family and emphasises the subjective perspective of the patient and the family (Caqueo-Urizar et al., 2009). QoL encompasses several important dimensions, including psychological status, functional abilities, personal well-being, social interaction, economic status, vocational status, and physical health (Cramer, 2000).