Bipolar Disorder and Fitness for Work: A Study of 17 Cases

Introduction The impact of bipolar disorder on occupational health and work ability has garnered increasing attention, as it significantly influences individuals’ professional functioning Objectives To examine the socio-professional characteristics of workers diagnosed with bipolar disorder and evaluate their fitness for work. Methods Retrospective descriptive study of patients with psychiatric disorders seeking medical assessments at the occupational pathology department between January 2011 and January 2024. Results A total of 17 patients with bipolar disorder were included, with a mean age of 36.3±8.6 years and a sex ratio of 0.42. The average professional seniority was 10.8±7.7 years. In terms of marital status, 37.5% were married, and 62.5% were single. Regarding educational level, 37.5% had completed secondary education, while 58.8% had a higher education degree, and 50% reported a family history of psychiatric disorders. Concerning lifestyle habits, 37.5% of patients were smokers, and 6.3% consumed alcohol. The most common sectors of activity were telecommunications (31.3%), transportation (18.8%), healthcare (18.8%), and cleaning and maintenance (12.5%). Workplace exposures included solvents (12.5%), noise (43.8%), imposed work pace (35.3%), lack of autonomy (35.3%), and conflicts with hierarchical superiors (62.5%). Work schedules varied, with night shifts (43.8%), alternating shifts (24.9%), and fixed hours (31.3%). Reported challenges included irritability (94.1%), sadness (93.8%), sleep disturbances (81.3%), appetite changes (43.8%), concentration difficulties (31.3%), and suicidal thoughts (25%). The disorder impacted work performance in 66.7% of cases, and 53% of patients required sick leave with an average duration of 7.4 months; 75% reported improvement under treatment. Medical assessments for work ability found that 18.8% were fit for work, 12.5% were permanently unfit, and 6.3% were temporarily unfit, while 56.3% required workplace adjustments, including avoidance of answering phone calls (12.7%), fixed work hours (23.5%), exclusion from night shifts (11.8%), and avoidance of public contact (17.6%); 6.3% underwent job reassignment. Conclusions Bipolar disorder has a substantial impact on work ability, highlighting the need for customized interventions and job accommodations to ensure that workers can maintain their roles and productivity. Disclosure of Interest None Declared