Concordance with Treatment Guidelines for Bipolar Disorder: Data from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder

Concordance with evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of chronic mental disorders is typically low. The study assesses the degree of concordance to recommendations of published treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Potential demographic and clinical predictors of adherence were examined.

STEP-BD treating psychiatrists participated in extensive training in evidence-based pharmacological management focusing on published clinical practice guidelines. Recommended medications and dosing for each specific mood episode were extracted from published treatment guidelines and collapsed into a Composite guideline. Prescribed medication information for patients at the first visit in a prospectively observed new-onset mood episode (depressive, mixed, or hypomanic/manic) was then compared with guideline recommendations.