Functional impairment and disability in euthymic Libyan adults with bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional study

Background: Bipolar disorder is a primary contributor to global disability. A critical gap exists between symptomatic remission and functional recovery, with many patients experiencing persistent impairment even during euthymia. However, empirical data from North African populations, particularly Libya, remain scarce. This study aimed to quantify the extent of this issue in a Libyan clinical sample. Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of functional impairment and disability in euthymic Libyan patients with BPD and to identify associated socio-demographic and clinical correlates. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 outpatients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of BPD were recruited from three psychiatric clinics in Libya. Euthymia was confirmed using cutoff scores of ≤7 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and ≤6 on the Young Mania Rating Scale. Functional impairment was evaluated using the Functioning Assessment Short Test, and disability was measured with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Associations were analysed using Chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The sample comprised 100 participants (97% with Bipolar I Disorder). Despite being in remission, only 44.0% exhibited normal functioning, while 35.0% had mild, 18.0% moderate, and 3.0% severe functional impairment.