“There is no one-size-fits-all medication that helps everyone with bipolar disorder,” says Dr Leigh Janet, a Johannesburg-based psychiatrist.
Managing bipolar disorder can be costly
Dr Leigh Janet says that finding the right medication (or a combination thereof) can seem like a daunting process and it might take several tries to work out the best medication for an individual.
“Plus, it can be an expensive exercise. Considering this, it is not hard to imagine why a patient may stop taking their medication.”
The survey results showed that 40% of participants had stopped attending face-to-face counselling sessions due to cost issues.
While it was good to see that more than half of the survey respondents reported they’re confident they know how to manage their disorder, it is concerning that the other half do not.
Furthermore, there is a rather big gap between knowing how to manage the condition and having access to the necessary resources to so, such as professional and psychosocial support throughout the entire course of the illness.
Understanding bipolar disorder
Affecting between one and three per cent of the general population, this mental health condition causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
The illness generally has an early onset, with approximately half of cases developing before the age of 25.
Bipolar disorder can lead to damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and legal or financial consequences from impulsive decisions during mania.
Previous studies have further found that both medical conditions (like diabetes/hypertension), and other psychological conditions (like anxiety/substance abuse) are more common in people with bipolar disorder, compared to the general population.
While bipolar disorder can seem unpredictable, the symptoms and their impact can be managed with the help of medication, psychotherapy and psychosocial support systems.
