title: Patients' perspectives on residual symptoms in bipolar disorder: a focus group study.
abstract: Euthymic bipolar patients are often impacted by residual symptoms (RSs) that increase the risk of relapse or low functioning. We aimed to identify the perceptions of RSs, barriers to management, and service needs in euthymic bipolar patients. A qualitative methodology (focus group) was used. The interviews were investigated using a semistructured guide, tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Twenty-three bipolar patients expressed concern about several RSs, such as emotional dysregulation, circadian rhythm disruption, cognitive impairment, low self-esteem, and physical symptoms. They reported concern about the impact of RSs on their functioning and about the need for more systematic assessment of RSs during interepisode visits. Selection bias may have occurred because the recruitment was limited to France and there may be cultural differences in the perceptions of RSs. Bipolar patients experienced bipolar disorder as a chronic disorder because they frequently continued to suffer from RSs associated with a functional impact.
authors.affiliation: *CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand; †CHU Saint-Louis-Lariboisière, Paris; ‡INSERM U955, Créteil; §Fondation FondaMental, Créteil; ∥CHU Pasteur, Nice; ¶CRHU Tours, INSERM U930, François Rabelais University, Tours; #CHRU Montpellier, INSERM U1061, Montpellier University, Montpellier; **Otsuka Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Rueil Malmaison; and ††Bristol-Myers Squibb, Rueil Malmaison, France.
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Samalin
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellivier
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giordana
authors.forename: Liova
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milhiet
authors.forename: Wissam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El-Hage
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtet
authors.forename: Evguenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hacques
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bedira
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dillenschneider
authors.forename: Pierre Michel
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Llorca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction