Assessment of Voice Parameters of Symptomatic and Remitted Patients of Bipolar Disorder

Abstract Introduction: Changes in speech in patients of bipolar affective disorders (BPADs) are one of the cardinal distinguishing features noted while examining the mental status of such patients. Methodology: The current study intended to study the differences of fundamental frequency (F0), intensity, jitter, and shimmer parameters between patients presenting with depression, mania, and euthymic state. Results: Twenty-three patients with bipolar mania and 15 patients with bipolar depression were recruited. Thirteen patients (nine patients with mania and four with depression) reported for the repeat voice analysis in euthymic state. There was no significant difference in any of the voice parameters across the three groups as studied using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Conclusion: F0, intensity, jitter, and shimmer are probably not the ideal parameters to study voice changes in BPAD in an Indian setting. Further studies should be conducted to substantiate this finding and the search for more reliable objective markers for mood states should be focused on.