Improving medical and psychiatric outcomes among individuals with bipolar disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Kilbourne AM, Post EP, Nossek A, Drill L, Cooley S, Bauer MS. Improving medical and psychiatric outcomes among individuals with bipolar disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.). 2008 Jul 1; 59(7):760-8.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• IAB 07-115 – Implementing Integrated Care for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness

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Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: Comorbid medical conditions, notably cardiovascular disease, occur disproportionately among persons with bipolar disorder; yet the quality and outcomes of medical care for these individuals are suboptimal. This pilot study examined a bipolar disorder medical care model (BCM) and determined whether, compared with usual care, individuals randomly assigned to receive BCM care had improved medical and psychiatric outcomes. METHODS: Persons with bipolar disorder and cardiovascular disease-related risk factors were recruited from a large Department of Veterans Affairs mental health facility and randomly assigned to receive BCM or usual care. BCM care consisted of four self-management sessions on bipolar disorder symptom control strategies, education and behavioral change related to cardiovascular disease risk factors, and promotion of provider engagement. Primary outcomes were physical and mental health-related quality of life; secondary outcomes included functioning and bipolar symptoms. RESULTS: Fifty-eight persons participated. Twenty-seven received BCM care, and 31 received usual care. The mean+/-SD age was 55+/-8 years, 9% were female, 90% were white, and 10% were African American. Repeated-measures analysis was used, and significant differences were observed between the two groups in change in scores from baseline to six months for the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) subscale for physical health (t = 2.01, df = 173, p = .04), indicating that the usual care group experienced a decline in physical health over the study period. Change in SF-12 scores also indicated that compared with the usual care group, the BCM group showed improvements in mental health-related quality of life over the six-month study period; however, this finding was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with usual care, BCM care may have slowed the decline in physical health-related quality of life. Further studies are needed to determine whether BCM care leads to long-term positive changes in physical and mental health-related quality of life and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease among persons with bipolar disorder.