Study of Marital Adjustment and Sexual Behaviour In Correlation With Quality of Life in Patients With Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Background: Marriage is a social process requiring certain social ability for it to be successful. Schizophrenia can lead to a reduction of social ability which has been associated with poor marital adjustment and sexual satisfaction among partners. The present study was designed to compare marital adjustment and sexual behaviour in correlation with quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Method: Study group consisted of outpatients with schizophrenia (n=30) and bipolar disorder (n=30) diagnosed according to ICD 10-DCR. Garos Sexual Behaviour Inventory (GSBI), Marital Adjustment Scale (MAS) and WHO Quality of Life (WHO QoL)-BREF were applied in both the groups to assess sexual behaviour, marital adjustment and quality of life, respectively. Results: Both groups reported that they had problems in marital adjustment and sexual behaviour. Patients with schizophrenia had significantly greater problems in marital adjustment and sexual behaviour. Patients with schizophrenia had statistically significant lower scores in different areas of GBSI. Quality of life in bipolar patients was negatively correlated with confidence domain of GSBI. Conclusion: Patients with bipolar and schizophrenia had problems in marital and sexual life. It was also found that schizophrenic patients had greater problems in the adjustment with their spouses.