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Three to six years after onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome, 63% of 122 patients showed one or more changes in their lifestyle, work, or leisure activities, or in the life of their partners. The changes were influenced by an impaired final functional outcome, along with loss of power and poor condition, although physically recovered patients showed these changes as well.

To study the extent to which patients experience residual problems in daily functioning several years after having Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) a survey of 123 patients who had had GuillainBarre syndrome three to six years previously was performed, using the sickness impact profile (SIP) for measuring functional health status and a functional assessment scale (F score) for measuring physical condition. The patients were diagnosed according to the international criteria for Guillain-Barre syndrome and were at the time of diagnosis unable to walk more than 10 metres without support. The physical SIP score correlated positively with final physical recovery (Pearson's r = 0.79). The psychosocial SIP score indicated impairment in all patient groups compared with matched normal control values; they included the group with no, or mild, residual symptoms (P < 0.05). No relation was found between clinical variables related to the severity or duration of Guillain-Barre syndrome and residual psychosocial dysfunctioning, except for a relation with disturbance of sensation in the arms.In conclusion, in many patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, psychosocial functioning is still seriously affected, even when they have physically recovered, or show only mild residual signs. (7 Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1997;62:637-640)

One year after the onset of GBS, a considerable number of patients still perceived a decrease of power and sensation with an often disturbing effect. GBS had an evident impact on daily life and social well-being.