Application of electronic diaries in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
BACKGROUND
Despite the dissemination of second generation antipsychotics for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, outcomes remain suboptimal, largely due to poor treatment and drug adherence. The primary aim of the current study was to assess the tolerability, validity and feasibility of the pocket-sized electronic diary Medicus®.


METHODS
Our case observations attempted to evaluate eighteen patients suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. All of the patients were treated with the second generation antipsychotic quetiapine. We followed them up in two German medical centers over two years.


RESULTS
The present results display an improvement of mood-stability in all patients treated with quetiapine. All patients were in regular contact to their psychiatrist over a period of 24 months. A complete description of the coherences between the symptoms was essential for estimation, which was conducted by Medicus®. Moreover, Medicus® seem to be useful for improving compliance within a medication regimen.


CONCLUSIONS
Although uncontrolled case observations can only be interpreted with caution, Medicus® seems to deserve further investigation and may hold the potential to optimize treatment and drug adherence in patients suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.
Department of General and Social Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital Zürich, Militärstrasse 8, P.O. Box 1930, CH-8021 Zürich, Switzerland. jochen.mutschler@puk.zh.ch
Jochen
J
Mutschler
Falk
F
von Zitzewitz
Wulf
W
Rössler
Martin
M
Grosshans
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate