Psychosocial Strategies to Improve Concordance and Adherence in Bipolar Disorder

Half of patients with bipolar disorder may exhibit poor medication compliance,and relapse often occurs even when patients take their medication as prescribed.Psychosocial strategies can help patients to recognize the need for treatmentand, therefore, improve medication adherence. Another benefit of psychosocialstrategies is that they aid patients in controlling their moods.Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to modify dysfunctional thinkingand behavior. Treatment contracting allows patients to develop a plan foridentifying and coping with symptoms before they become severe. Daily moodcharting assists patients in quickly identifying and intervening when changesoccur. Creating and following a weekly activity schedule ensures that patientswill participate in enough positive activities and avoid destructive activities.Using a variety of psychosocial strategies, patients can train themselves and asupport team to effectively deal with bipolar disorder.

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