Perception of ill spouse and dyadic relationship in couples with affectivedisorder and those without

Background: This study compares the perception of spouses and the quality o f the dyadic relationship of patients with seven affective disorders in rem ission with healthy couples. Method: The sample included spouses of patient s between the ages of 20 and 65 who had been hospitalized with severe affec tive illness and who were currently in remission (depressive, n = 23; bipol al, n = 11) and a control group matched by socioeconomic status. Both group s completed three instruments measuring the quality of the dyadic relations hip, attributed characteristics of the spouse and non-formal social support . Results: The spouses of patients, as compared to spouses of controls, sco red lower on consensus, unity and expressions of affection in their marital relationship, ranked their ill spouses lower on the positive qualities and higher on the negative qualities and reported receiving less emotional and practical support. Limitations: The limitations of the study are the small sample size and cross sectional design. Conclusions: The results suggest t hat severe affective disorders are associated with marital dysfunction, eve n during periods of symptom remission. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.