Citation

McAllister-Williams RH, Watson S. J. Psychopharmacol. 2003; 17(4 Suppl): 7-10.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14964625

Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness that has been largely ignored by the National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health. This is particularly notable because it is associated with a higher suicide rate than schizophrenia and has a greater burden of disability. The NSF offers little guidance on service models that specifically consider BD. This is of concern because of the complexities that are inherent in the management of BD. These deficiencies in the NSF may have far-reaching implications for resource allocation, service organization, and patient management and well-being. Moreover, the standards and performance targets laid out in the NSF will be difficult to meet if this important and common mental illness is not specifically catered for in mental health services. Local Implementation Teams would be well advised to take note of the recently published British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines for the management of BD.

Language: en

Keywords

Antidepressive Agents; Antimanic Agents; Bipolar Disorder; Humans; National Health Programs; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Societies, Medical; United Kingdom