Motivational Interviewing in Patients With Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder with depressive, manic or hypomanic episodes, which is completely normal or thought to be associated with minimal symptom levels, and is known to cause high mortality, morbidity, and loss of function in almost all areas. Gaining functionality in patients with bipolar disorder, improving their compliance with treatment and quality of life, and helping them to cope with stress are among the most important goals of treatment. In individuals with bipolar disorder, stressful life events can lead to early onset of the disease, more frequent depression, psychotic symptoms, and problems such as anxiety. It is stated that patients with bipolar disorder have problems in interpersonal relationships and problems in coping with stress. When patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in remission encounter a stressful life event, their functionality in the areas of work/school, family, and friends may be affected or even impaired. Since bipolar disorder is a chronic disease, it is stated that it affects people's lives in terms of their functionality during remission periods as well as during attacks. Marriage-related problems, economic difficulties and substance use, together with the risk of suicide and irregular work history, can cause dysfunction in patients in wide psychosocial areas. It has been reported that the quality of life of patients whose functionality is impaired during the remission period also deteriorates. Due to the early onset of bipolar disorder, the length of time until diagnosis, and inadequate treatment, it harms patients in terms of quality of life and expected psychosocial development. It is stated that depressive symptoms, being a woman, the length of time until the diagnosis, low socioeconomic and educational level are factors that increase the deterioration in the quality of life in rural areas in patients with bipolar disorder. In addition, the presence of another comorbidity accompanying bipolar disorder (anxiety, alcohol-substance addiction, etc.) also affects the quality of life. However, when the clinical studies on the disorder are examined, it is seen that the lack of compliance of the patients with the treatment causes the quality of life to deteriorate. In bipolar disorder, low treatment compliance is caused by the patient's insufficient insight into the disease, reservations about the drug, negative clinical course of the disease, insufficient social and environmental support, economic difficulties, insufficient information about treatment, unfavorable conditions of the living environment or treatment center, the patient's and his/her environment's drug addiction. treatment and attitude towards bipolar disorder, prejudices caused by drug use in society, and cultural beliefs. Poor therapeutic relationship, poor quality of life, impaired functioning, ineffective coping methods, and lack of motivation It is associated with poor adjustment (to symptoms, treatment, and environment) in patients with bipolar disorder. In order to achieve better compliance and results, the therapeutic relationship, coping skills, quality of life and functionality should be improved by increasing the motivation of individuals. Nurses need to establish a therapeutic relationship in order for the nursing care to produce effective results during the recovery process of these patients. In this study, it is thought that Motivational Interviewing may be effective in increasing effective coping skills, functionality, adherence to treatment and quality of life in patients with bipolar disorder, and may shed light and guide psychiatric nursing interventions.