The integrated approach. On the significance of pharmacological and nonpharmacological factors when lithium prophylaxis fails.
Drugs are easy to prescribe, and if a manic-depressive patient is not helped by one prophylactically administered drug, physicians may be apt as a first reaction to prescribe another drug, especially now that alternatives to lithium have become available. This may or may not be the appropriate course of action. Often nonpharmacological factors determine whether patients consume their medicine and whether they respond to it, and concern about patient selection, patient characteristics, treatment execution, patient and therapist attitudes, treatment organization, and supplementary psychological support may more profitably serve to ensure that manic-depressive patients obtain help from prophylactic drug treatment. Only by employing a treatment approach which integrates pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures can optimal results be obtained.
Schou
M
M
Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Aarhus University Institute of Psychiatry, Risskov, Denmark.
D000818:Animals; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010349:Patient Compliance
D008094:Lithium