Care of individuals with bipolar disorders

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness that is characterized by chronicity, pervasive instability, and relatively high rates of recurrence and suicide. Current evidence supports that adverse circles among hereditary and genetic factors, neuroinflamation, and social rhythm constitute a crucial etiology. Pharmacological treatment is the first priority for BD patients during the acute stage. Pharmacological and psychosocial treatments should be combined during the maintenance stage in order to help patients self-manage medication, effectively control mood swings, enhance disease self-management and social functions, decrease the risks of relapse and re-hospitalization, and stabilize overall health. The present article firstly introduces the characteristics and etiological assumptions related to BD, the related evidence-based care models and their effects, and the early development of an evidence-based care model, the BalancingMySwing group, for BD patients in Taiwan. This article provides updated information to clinicians who are involved in caring for this population. Moreover, the existing data related to biological and psychosocial factors for BD in Taiwan is insufficient and developing individual-tailored psychosocial intervention is urgently needed. The authors hope that this article will elicit greater concern for this issue from policy decision-makers and healthcare providers.