Enhanced relapse prevention for bipolar disorder: a qualitative investigation of value perceived for service users and care coordinators
2009

Understanding Enhanced Relapse Prevention for Bipolar Disorder

Sample size: 42 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Eleanor Pontin, Sarah Peters, Fiona Lobban, Anne Rogers, Richard K Morriss

Primary Institution: University of Liverpool

Hypothesis

What values of Enhanced Relapse Prevention (ERP) are perceived by service users and care coordinators providing community case management?

Conclusion

Care coordinators and service users perceive similar value in early warning signs interventions to prevent relapse, which may lead to long-term use of ERP in routine practice.

Supporting Evidence

  • Care coordinators reported increased confidence and competence in managing bipolar disorder after ERP training.
  • Service users felt more empowered and better able to recognize early warning signs of relapse.
  • Both groups valued the improved understanding of bipolar disorder gained through the ERP intervention.

Takeaway

This study shows that both patients and their care providers find value in a program that helps them recognize early signs of bipolar disorder, which can help prevent relapses.

Methodology

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sub-sample of 21 care coordinators and 21 service users.

Potential Biases

Participants may have provided socially desirable responses due to the research team's association with the trial.

Limitations

The study relied on subjective accounts and may not represent the views of all care coordinators and service users.

Participant Demographics

{"care_coordinators":{"female":14,"male":7,"mean_age":45,"professional_background":{"community_psychiatric_nurse":18,"occupational_therapist":2,"social_worker":1}},"service_users":{"female":13,"male":8,"mean_age":47,"employment_status":{"unemployed":10,"employed":7,"retired":2,"student":2}}}

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1748-5908-4-4

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