Survey Highlights How Family Support and Finding and Staying on the Right Treatment Can Make a Difference in Keeping Patients wi
September 02 2008 - 2:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Psychiatrists Worldwide Provide Insights into Essentials of Patient
Care BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Patients
with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective
disorder and bipolar disorder can live productive and fulfilling
lives. Yet an international survey of psychiatrists illuminates
that there are major barriers to long-term wellness, which include
stigma, limited resources and the fear and consequences of relapse.
Gathering perspectives of 697 psychiatrists from Australia, Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the
United States, the survey tapped into their insights on how family
caregivers, stigma, treatment non-adherence and relapse affect the
lives of people living with these debilitating illnesses. Findings
show that psychiatrists have frequently seen how relapse can be a
devastating blow to both individuals and their families, and how
this has resulted in hospitalization, employment loss,
incarceration or even suicide. This survey of psychiatrists, the
second of a Keeping Care Complete series of surveys, builds upon
findings from a 2006 assessment of 1,082 caregivers that shed light
on experiences of family caregivers of individuals with bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. "More than 50
million people suffer from serious mental illnesses around the
world," said Preston Garrison, Secretary-General and Chief
Executive Officer, World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). "An
indirect consequence of serious mental illness is that it can have
a negative impact on family caregivers' own physical and emotional
health. That is why it's so important that family members get the
support they need so that they can take better care of their loved
ones. Keeping Care Complete is a vital research initiative that is
helping us understand the real life challenges faced by those who
treat, care for and live with serious mental illness." Keeping Care
Complete was developed in partnership with the World Federation for
Mental Health and Eli Lilly and Company. Consequences of relapse
Relapse is a major concern for caregivers and psychiatrists as
patients can suffer multiple relapses over the course of their
lives. Thirty-seven percent of caregivers said that their family
member relapsed five or more times since becoming diagnosed,
leaving a majority of caregivers to often or always worry about
their loved one relapsing. The consequences of relapse are
devastating to patients and their caregivers. -- Fifty-two percent
of psychiatrists said they had a patient attempt suicide as a
result of relapse -- For caregivers, the relapse of a family member
can result in the deterioration of their own mental and physical
health and financial situation, lead to employment loss and cause
substantial disruptions to their lives. Considerations for
selecting medication and non-adherence Eighty-four percent of
psychiatrists surveyed said that a lack of adherence to medication
is the number one cause of relapse in patients with schizophrenia,
and 98 percent said that complete or partial non-adherence is a
significant barrier to effective treatment for most patients with
bipolar disorder. In addition, psychiatrists and caregivers both
agree that medication discontinuation poses as an obstacle for
successful treatment and very often leads to relapse. "This study
shows that psychiatrists continue to see that medication adherence
is a huge challenge for patients," said Prof. Dr. Dieter Naber,
chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of
Hamburg, Germany. "All patients are different, which is why
psychiatrists need to know their patients, their attitudes toward
treatment and their social conditions to help patients find and
stay on the treatment plan that works for them. But, as this survey
shows, patients benefit from more than just medication alone -
family support, talk therapy, diet, exercise and stable schedules
also help patients stay well." Consequences of Stigma Stigma
against people with serious mental illness is painful and can have
harmful consequences. -- 92 percent of psychiatrists said that
inaccurate portrayals of serious mental illness in the mainstream
media can further add to the stigma and negatively affect their
wellness and hinder their treatment. -- 87 percent of psychiatrists
and 82 percent of caregivers have seen the effects of stigma and
discrimination make it harder for individuals with serious mental
illnesses to get and stay well. Road to Wellness: Finding the Right
Treatment, Caregivers and Wellness Programs Finding and staying on
the right treatment can result in marked improvements in a
patient's everyday life. Results from both surveys showed that
performing daily tasks independently, staying out of the hospital,
holding a steady job, living on their own and forming romantic
relationships are some of the positive outcomes patients may
experience as a result of being treated successfully. Ninety-six
percent of psychiatrists and 74 percent of caregivers said that in
addition to medication, family support is a key factor that helps
keep patients well. Caregivers and psychiatrists both reported that
programs designed to help patients with their overall wellness are
valuable in helping them manage their symptoms. However, findings
indicate there is a need for more services for mental health.
Although a majority of psychiatrists encourage caregivers to
participate in support and education programs, 57 percent reported
that less than 10 percent of caregivers they interact with actually
participate in these programs. When asked about rehabilitation
resources, only 19 percent of psychiatrists believed there were
enough resources available in the community for their patients.
International survey data and fact sheets on schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder and the caregiver
perspective are available at http://www.wfmh.org/. About bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder Bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are complex
mental illnesses that know no racial, cultural or economic
boundaries.(1) Bipolar disorder, formerly known as
manic-depression, is characterized by debilitating mood swings with
symptoms of mania and depression.(2) Schizophrenia is characterized
by acute psychotic episodes including delusions (false beliefs that
cannot be corrected by reason), hallucinations (usually in the form
of non-existent voices or visions) and long-term impairments such
as diminished emotion, lack of interest and depressive symptoms,
such as hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.(3) Schizoaffective
disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms of
schizophrenia and an affective (mood) disorder. Twenty-seven
million people suffer from bipolar disorder and 25 million people
suffer from schizophrenia worldwide.(4,5) Although the exact
prevalence of schizoaffective disorder is not clear, it is
estimated to range from two to five in a thousand people.
Schizoaffective disorder may also account for one-fourth or even
one-third of all persons with schizophrenia.(6) About WFMH WFMH is
an international interdisciplinary membership organization
committed to promoting, among all people and nations, the highest
possible level of mental health in its broadest biological,
medical, educational, and social aspect. Consultative status at the
United Nations provides WFMH a variety of opportunities to engage
in mental health advocacy at the global level, working closely with
the World Health Organization, UNESCO, the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the International
Labor Organization and others. Additional information about WFMH is
available at http://www.wfmh.org/. About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a
growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class
pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its
own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent
scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.,
Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for
some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional
information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/. (1)
Schizophrenia: What You Need to Know. National Mental Health
Association. Available at:
http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/51.cfm, accessed June 7,
2006. (2) Bipolar Disorder National Institute of Mental Health. NIH
Publication No. 02-3679; Printed 2001, Reprinted September 2002.
Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm,
accessed June 7, 2006. (3) Weiden P, Scheifler P, Diamond R, et al.
Breakthroughs in Antipsychotic Medications. New York: W.W. Norton
& Company, 1999. (4) The World Health Report 2001: Mental
Health - New Understanding, New Hope. World Health Organization.
Available at: http://www.who.int/whr/2001/chapter3/en/index1.html,
accessed January 6, 2006. (5) The World Health Report 2003: Shaping
the Future. World Health Organization, 2003. Available at
http://www.who.int/whr/2003/en/whr03_en.pdf (6) Schizoaffective
Disorder. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Available at:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagemen
t/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11837, accessed on June 7, 2006.
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DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company CONTACT: Charles McAtee of Eli
Lilly and Company, +1-317-277-1566, or +1-317-997-1627
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