title: Gender differences in subjective experience and treatment of bipolar disorder.
abstract: Treatment nonadherence is a leading cause of poor outcomes among populations with bipolar disorder (BD) and is related to subjective experience of illness and treatment. This study examined gender differences in the experience of illness and treatment for those with BD, specifically in regards to treatment adherence. This cross-sectional analysis pooled data from 3 BD studies. A semistructured qualitative instrument, the Subjective Experience of Medication Interview, elicited information on subjective differences in treatment adherence between men and women. Men and women experience comparable levels of stigma and they comparably value lessened irritability and/or impulsivity because of medications. However, men and women differed in fear of weight gain because of medications, value of social support, and self-medication behaviors. Selected differences in subjective illness experience between men and women might be used to inform gender-sensitive approaches to enhance treatment adherence among populations with BD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kriegshauser
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajatovic
authors.forename: Janis H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muzina
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fattal
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012649:Self Concept; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain
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