Key takeaways:
It is important that clinicians help patients view bipolar disorder as a manageable illness.
Family and culture play a role in long-term management of symptoms.
Education is empowering for patients.
In a Harris poll conducted last year of 250 health care providers who treat patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, 98% indicated that patient quality of life is equally important as treatment.
Additionally, when asked to reveal the top three concerns about their patients with bipolar disorder, respondents listed: the ability of patients to stay on their medication long term; concerns over frequency of symptoms or episodes; and frequency of concurrent depressive symptoms or episodes.
Healio spoke with Alberto Augsten , PharmD, MS, BCPP, DABAT, head of Augste