Background: Occupational functioning is severely impaired in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Work motivation (WM), defined as the psychological processes that determine the direction, intensity, and persistence of action within the work, is an essential component of work-related functioning.
Aim: To assess whether WM is affected in patients with BD and which clinical and sociodemographic factors are related to low WM.
Methods: In all, 95 euthymic BD patients were invited to answer the Motivation for Work Questionnaire and the Rating Scale on Subjective Cognitive Deficits in Bipolar Disorder (COBRA).
Results: A total of 49.5% ( n = 47) of the patients were classified in the Low Motivated (LM) group. Unemployment and the report of more subjective cognitive complaints were predictors of poor WM in this sample ((OR) = 3.01 and 7.10, respectively).
Conclusions: Perceived cognitive deficits related to the disorder and current unemployment negatively impact WM in patients with BD. In addition to symptomatic recovery, the need of the inclusion of personal and occupational areas in the comprehensive treatment of patients with BD is necessary.
Keywords: Cognition; bipolar disorder; employment; job satisfaction; motivation; rehabilitation; severe mental illness.