Department of Psychiatry, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Chronic Illn. 2024 Mar;20(1):49-63. doi: 10.1177/17423953231156783. Epub 2023 Feb 12.
The course of bipolar disorder (BD) is sensitive to factors that may disrupt biological and social rhythms. It is important for patients diagnosed with BD to continue their follow-up and treatment during the pandemic due to personal and social effects. This study aimed to evaluate the disease course and treatment compliance of individuals diagnosed with BD during the pandemic.
A total of 267 patients with BD were included in the study. The scales were applied by phone calls. A sociodemographic data form was filled out during the phone interviews. Diagnostic criteria for hypomanic, manic, and depressive episodes in DSM-5 were questioned and recorded through the created form.
During the first of the pandemic, a total of 72 (27.0%) patients had a mood episode, of which 56 (21.0%) were manic/hypomanic episodes and 16 (6.0%) depressive episodes. Also, 54.7% of the patients were able to obtain their medications thanks to the extended medication reports. Being unable to use their medications regularly, having a seasonal pattern of disease, and using an increased number of psychotropics were significant predictors of a new episode. While 74.5% of the patients wanted to talk to their psychiatrists online, only 1.1% could reach the psychiatrist online.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are particularly evident in patients with a seasonal pattern. Telepsychiatry practices should be actively included in clinical practice, and government policies developed for treatment compliance seem important.
双相情感障碍（BD）的病程对可能扰乱生物和社会节律的因素很敏感。由于个人和社会的影响，患有 BD 的患者在大流行期间继续接受随访和治疗非常重要。本研究旨在评估大流行期间诊断为 BD 的个体的疾病过程和治疗依从性。
共纳入 267 例 BD 患者。通过电话应用量表。在电话访谈中填写了一份社会人口统计学数据表格。通过创建的表格询问并记录了 DSM-5 中轻躁狂、躁狂和抑郁发作的诊断标准。
在大流行的第一阶段，共有 72 名（27.0%）患者出现情绪发作，其中 56 名（21.0%）为躁狂/轻躁狂发作，16 名（6.0%）为抑郁发作。此外，由于延长了药物报告，54.7%的患者能够获得药物。无法定期使用药物、疾病具有季节性模式以及使用更多精神药物是新发作的显著预测因素。虽然 74.5%的患者希望与他们的精神科医生在线交谈，但只有 1.1%的患者能够在线联系到精神科医生。
COVID-19 大流行的影响在具有季节性模式的患者中尤为明显。远程精神病学实践应积极纳入临床实践，制定治疗依从性的政府政策似乎很重要。
