V.A. Research on Bipolar Disorder --New treatment model used on veterans shows promise.
A new treatment model for bipolar disorder tested in veterans across the nation reduced their manic episodes and improved their quality of life,according to research led by psychiatrist with Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Brown Medical School.
The randomized,controlled trial also showed that the model did not add to the treatment costs for bipolar disorder,which affects nearly 6 million American adults a year.Results appear in two reports published in Psychiatric Services,a journal of the American Psychiatric Association.
"We applied the same symptom managment approaches found in interventions for diabetes and asthma to the treatment of bipolar disorder and found that people with serious mental illness can help take control of their care," said Mark S. Bauer,MD., staff psychiatrist with Providence V.A. Medical Center and professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown Medical School."This finding should reduce the stigma of helplessness that so often is associated with these disorders,and will open new avenues for the treatment of bipolar disorder."
Baurer oversaw the clinical trail and is the lead author of both journal articles.
The new model was developed and tested in veterans with bipolar at the Providence V.A. Medical Center. During the trail,306 veterans were enrolled at 11 V.A. centers located in Arizona,Californa,Colorado,Georgia,Indiana,Maryland,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Tennessee,and Texas.Each veteran was randomly assigned to a study group.One group got usual care through their psychiatrist. The other group received treatment for bipolar disorder under the new model.
Developed by Bauer and colleagues,the model brings together psychiatrists and nurses as a team to treat the patients.Psychiatrists monitored symptoms and handled medications .Nurse care coordinators worked with veterans during group education sessions.
During the weekly group sessions,nurses discussed topics such a medication side effects and early warning signs for symptoms,which in bipolar disorder range from racing speech,bursts of optimism and impulsive behavior during manic episodes to fatigue,social withdrawal and suicidal thoughts durring depreesive episodes episodes.During the sessions,patients discussed coping skills ,got feedback from the group and created personal action plans.
The intervention was tested for three years.The results:Under the new model,patients saw a significant reduction in symptoms,including five fewer weeks experiencing mania during the three-year study period.Patients also felt happier and healthier,reporting more productive time at work,better relationships with family,and more satisfaction with their care.
The new model was less expensive-an average of $61,398 for three years of direct bipolar treatment cost compared with $64,379 for usual care-although the difference was not statistically significant.
"The bottom line is that we saw improvements in patients' symptoms,function and quality of life with no change in net costs,"Bauer said.
The results mirror those from simultaneous trail testing a similar team-based treatment approach for bipolar disorder that Bauer also helped to develop.That approach was tested in 441 patients enrolled in a Washington state health maintenance oranization.Results from that trial were published in May in Archives of General Psychiatry.
"We now have results from more than 700 patients,cared for in very different health systems,that show this collaborative approach works,"Bauer said."Just like anyone with a chronic illness,people with bipolar disorder can work with medical professionals to manage their symptoms and manage their Lives."
The Bush and company as you know have cut the Budget for brain injury by 50%. Now in his 2008 Budget coming out in Feb. he cuts over 55% of all reaserch done by the V.A.
Plus his budgets cuts over 3500 nurses out of the V.A.
The V.A. has been in the for front fighting for our sick veterans. But Under Bush and Nicholson the V.A . has been cutting program after program most of those programs are research. TIME FOR CHANGE
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