Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that alters brain functioning of the patients. In a study carried out in Washington, researchers tried to find out prevalence of treated bipolar disorder in the region. It was carried out in a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). This essay summarizes the study, which focused on mental health issues.
Method of Study
A group of 294,284 patients who had been treated by HMO health care providers, and others, who had registered as health maintenance organization members, formed the basis of the study. Automated data was used to find out the total number of patients who had been treated for bipolar disorder between 1995 and 1996.
Computerized diagnosis of outpatient and inpatient visits and use of mood stabilizers was used to identify individuals who showed signs of bipolar disorder. A review of outpatient records was later conducted randomly in order to confirm validity of the procedure used to identify patients with bipolar disorder (Simon & Katon, 1998).
Results
The study showed that prevalence of treated bipolar disorder was at 42 percent. It was discovered that rates of treated bipolar disorder were higher in women, young people and families that were HMO members. In addition, women who were enrolled in individual plans that were part of HMO and Basic Health Plan programs for poor families exhibited higher rates of treated bipolar prevalence.
The total number of patients who were treated for bipolar disorder was 1,236. Out of this number, at least 93 percent had visited specialized mental health institutions. On the other hand, 86 percent had been given medication to stabilize their moods. The percentage that was treated with antidepressants, benzodiazepine or antipsychotic was small.
Importance of the Study
The study was important because bipolar disorder was a common mental condition that affected many people. It was therefore crucial to find out its prevalence since it affected a large number of women immediately they gave birth, something that exposed them to other illnesses. Despite the fact that a lot of work was required in order to manage individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it was important to recognize it early enough in order to administer medication.
The study was also important because it made it possible for patients who had been treated for bipolar disorder to be identified. The condition affected a large number of people, but some of them did not consider treatment, hence they did not seek medical attention in good time.
In addition, the study made it possible for health care providers to evaluate the kind of treatment patients who had visited mental health institutions received. This was important because different medications were essential when bipolar disorder patients exhibited certain symptoms.
Limitations of the Study
The first limitation that made the study difficult was lack of accurate records for patients who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This was due to the fact that some of them had not visited mental health institutions. As a result, health care providers could not get their actual numbers. The second limitation was risk of data loss because computerized systems were used to carry out the study.
Conclusions
After the study was conducted, it was concluded that the rate of bipolar treated prevalence in the HMO population was higher compared with the one that had been recorded for prepaid health schemes. However, large population surveys gave a lower estimate. Many patients who were treated received medication for mood stabilization and special services related to mental health.
Reference
Simon, G., & Katon, W. (1998). The treated prevalence of bipolar disorder in a large staff-model HMO.