From self-care to hospitalization: bipolar patients' health care practices in Mexico.
BACKGROUND
New research is continually improving the comprehension of bipolar disorder (BD). However, many challenges remain to be addressed, such as understanding the health care practices (HCPs) chosen by bipolar patients and the determinants of seeking treatment.


METHODS
Using a qualitative approach, we studied the HCPs of six patients with BD through focused interviews.


CONCLUSIONS
Even patients who report using primarily allopathic care usually test out and combine different HCPs.


CONCLUSIONS
Pathways to care in BD are composed of a combination of HCPs because patients need to develop a stock of potential treatment alternatives to deal with the suffering involved in living with BD.
Psychiatry and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), Mexico. dra.vargashuicochea@yahoo.com.mx
Ingrid
I
Vargas-Huicochea
Shoshana
S
Berenzon-Gorn
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data