Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Disability and Self-Management Practices of People with Bipolar Disorder: A Web-Based Survey

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In a web-based survey asking adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder about illness management, we obtain frequency of self-reported usage and perceived helpfulness of 27 self-management strategies. We correlated the strategy use and perceived helpfulness with demographic and clinical characteristics, along with the Illness Intrusiveness Scale total score. Completed surveys were obtained from 1,024 individuals. Perceived helpfulness of 18 of 27 strategies was correlated negatively with illness intrusiveness at the P < 0.001 level. Given limitations of web-based surveys, our study underscores the substantial negative impact of bipolar disorder, along with the potential of the Internet to enhance the use of self-management strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bauer, M., & McBride, C. (2003). Structured group therapy for bipolar disorder: The life goals program. Springer: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berk, M., Berk, L., & Castle, D. (2004). A collaborative approach to the treatment alliance in bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder, 6(6), 504–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodenheimer, T., Lorig, K., Holman, H., & Grumbach, K. (2002). Patient self-management of chronic disease in primary care. JAMA, 288(19), 2469–2475.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colom, F., & Vieta, E. (2004). A perspective on the use of psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy for bipolar patients. Bipolar Disorder, 6(6), 480–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colom, F., Vieta, E., Martinez, A., Jorquera, A., & Gasto, C. (1998). What is the role of psychotherapy in the treatment of bipolar disorder? Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 67(1), 3–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colom, F., Vieta, E., & Scott, J. (2006). Psychoeducation manual for bipolar disorder. London: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Depp, C., Patterson, T. L., Lebowitz, B., Lacro, J., & Jeste, D. V. (2007). Medication adherence skills training in middle aged and elderly adults with bipolar disorder: Development and pilot study. Bipolar Disorder, 9(6), 639–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devins, G. M., Dion, R., Pelletier, L. G., Shapiro, C. M., Abbey, S., Raiz, L. R., et al. (2001). Structure of lifestyle disruptions in chronic disease: A confirmatory factor analysis of the illness intrusiveness ratings scale. Medical Care, 39(10), 1097–1104.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Devins, G. M., Edworthy, S. M., Seland, T. P., Klein, G. M., Paul, L. C., & Mandin, H. (1993). Differences in illness intrusiveness across rheumatoid arthritis, end-stage renal disease, and multiple sclerosis. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 181(6), 377–381.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenbach, G. (2004). Improving the quality of Web surveys: The checklist for reporting results of Internet E-surveys (CHERRIES). Journal of Medical Internet Research, 6(3), e34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenbach, G., & Wyatt, J. (2002). Using the Internet for surveys and health research. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 4(2), E13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, E., Swartz, H. A., & Kupfer, D. J. (2000). Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy: Managing the chaos of bipolar disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 48(6), 593–604.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, B. W., Nelson, D. E., Kreps, G. L., Croyle, R. T., Arora, N. K., Rimer, B. K., et al. (2005). Trust and sources of health information: The impact of the internet and its implications for health care providers: Findings from the first health information national trends survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 165(22), 2618–2624.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfeld, R. M., Lewis, L., & Vornik, L. A. (2003). Perceptions and impact of bipolar disorder: How far have we really come? Results of the national depressive and manic-depressive association 2000 survey of individuals with bipolar disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64(2), 425–432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Akiskal, H. S., Ames, M., Birnbaum, H., Greenberg, P., A, R. M., et al. (2006). Prevalence and effects of mood disorders on work performance in a nationally representative sample of U.S. workers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(9), 1561–1568.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kogan, J. N., Otto, M. W., Bauer, M. S., Dennehy, E. B., Miklowitz, D. J., Zhang, H. W., et al. (2004). Demographic and diagnostic characteristics of the first 1000 patients enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Bipolar Disorder, 6(6), 460–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, D., Jones, S., Hayward, P., & Bright, J. (1999). Cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder. New York: Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lembke, A., Miklowitz, D. J., Otto, M. W., Zhang, H., Wisniewski, S. R., Sachs, G. S., et al. (2004). Psychosocial service utilization by patients with bipolar disorders: Data from the first 500 participants in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 10(2), 81–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lorig, K. R., & Holman, H. (2003). Self-management education: History, definition, outcomes, and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 26(1), 1–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lorig, K. R., Ritter, P. L., Laurent, D. D., & Plant, K. (2006). Internet-based chronic disease self-management: A randomized trial. Medical Care, 44(11), 964–971.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ludman, E. J., Simon, G. E., Rutter, C. M., Bauer, M. S., & Unutzer, J. (2002). A measure for assessing patient perception of provider support for self-management of bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder, 4(4), 249–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miklowitz, D. J., Otto, M. W., Frank, E., Reilly-Harrington, N. A., Wisniewski, S. R., Kogan, J. N., et al. (2007). Psychosocial treatments for bipolar depression: A 1-year randomized trial from the systematic treatment enhancement program. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64(4), 419–426.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mueser, K. T., Corrigan, P. W., Hilton, D. W., Tanzman, B., Schaub, A., Gingerich, S., et al. (2002). Illness management and recovery: A review of the research. Psychiatric Services, 53(10), 1272–1284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, C., & Lopez, A. (1996). Global burden of disease. Geneva: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, C., Leahy, R., Beck, A. T., Reilly-Harrington, N., & Gyulai, L. (2002). Bipolar disorder: A cognitive therapy approach. New York: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • NFCoMH DHHS (2003). Acheiving promise: Transforming mental health care in America. Final Report. SMA-03-3832.

  • Pincus, H. A., Page, A. E., et al. (2007). Can psychiatry cross the quality chasm? Improving the quality of health care for mental and substance use conditions. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(5), 712–719.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, P., Lorig, K., Laurent, D., & Matthews, K. (2004). Internet versus mailed questionnaires: A randomized comparison. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 6(3), e29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robb, J. C., Cooke, R. G., Devins, G. M., Young, L. T., & Joffe, R. T. (1997). Quality of life and lifestyle disruption in euthymic bipolar disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 31(5), 509–517.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, S. J., & Browne, J. L. (2005). Staying well with bipolar disorder. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 3, 187–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salyers, M. P., Godfrey, J. L., Mueser, K. T., & Labriola, S. (2007). Measuring illness management outcomes: A psychometric study of clinician and consumer rating scales for illness self management and recovery. Community Mental Health Journal, 43(5), 459–480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, G. E. (2003). Social and economic burden of mood disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 54(3), 208–215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitley, R., & Drake, R. E. (2008). How do clients obtain mental health information? Commentary on “consumer perspectives on information and other inputs to decision-making: Implications for evidence-based practice.” Community Mental Health Journal Epub.

  • Willms, D. G., Best, A. J., Taylor, D. W., Gilbert, J. R., Wilson, D. M. C., Lindsay, E. A., et al. (1992). A systematic approach for using qualitative methods in primary prevention research. Medical Anthropology, 4, 391–409.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grants K23MH077225 and P30MH066248. We are indebted to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance for their assistance in this study, particularly Cindy Specht and Nathan Henry.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, 0664, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0664, USA

    Colin A. Depp, John L. Stricker, Lisa T. Eyler, Thomas L. Patterson, Barry D. Lebowitz & Dilip V. Jeste

  2. VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA

    John L. Stricker, Lisa T. Eyler & Dilip V. Jeste

  3. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, San Diego Chapter, San Diego, CA, USA

    David Zagorsky

  4. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lisa C. Goodale

Authors
  1. Colin A. Depp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John L. Stricker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Zagorsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lisa C. Goodale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lisa T. Eyler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Thomas L. Patterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Barry D. Lebowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Dilip V. Jeste
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colin A. Depp.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Depp, C.A., Stricker, J.L., Zagorsky, D. et al. Disability and Self-Management Practices of People with Bipolar Disorder: A Web-Based Survey. Community Ment Health J 45, 179–187 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-008-9174-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-008-9174-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation