Key words: bipolar disorder, drug therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, clinical global impression
Objective: the aim of the present study was to compare the outcome data in two groups of patients with bipolar disorder followed at the public mental health service with a follow-up period of at least two years. A first group was treated with drug therapy alone and a group treated in an integrated manner, drug therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy provided through synergistic collaboration with specialist training schools and thus without further costs for the national health service.
Method: the medical records of 74 users of the mental health center were analyzed to verify the number of admissions, relapses, weight of medication; the efficacy was also analyzed through the specific Clinical Global Impression score.
Results: compared to the group treated with drug therapy alone, the group of patients treated with the combination of pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy showed fewer relapses and hospitalizations as well as a lower weight of medication and a higher global efficacy index.
Conclusions: implementing pharmacological therapy with cognitive behavioural therapy allows a treatment pathway characterized by greater success both from an economic point of view for the service and in terms of the individual’s overall health.
DOI: doi.org/10.36131/psichpsicoterapia2233