Bipolar Disorder Patients Follow-up (BDPF): methods and materials

Journal of Research in Medical Sciences1735-199515420100525Bipolar Disorder Patients Follow-up (BDPF): methods and materials229234ENMental Health Research CentreTehran Psychiatric Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranTehran Psychiatric Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranTehran Psychiatric Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranTabriz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tabriz, IranIran Hospital of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranBipolar Disorders Research Group, Mental Health Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranBipolar Disorders Research Group, Mental Health Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranTehran Psychiatric Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranTehran Psychiatric Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranIran Hospital of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranIran Hospital of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranBipolar Disorders Research Group, Mental Health Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, IranBipolar Disorders Research Group, Mental Health Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran200912162010013120100117<ul><li>BACKGROUND: The Bipolar Disorder Patients Follow-up (BDPF) project is a longitudinal, prospective and naturalistic study. The purpose of the present report is to introduce the project, elaborate its methods, and present the reliability data of the utilized symptoms rating scales.</li><li>METHODS: The sampling started in May 2008 and is still in progress. The probands are assessed at the beginning of the sampling and then 2 and 6 months later and then every 6 months using several instruments to identify psychiatric comorbidities, symptoms severity, quality of life, attempted suicide rate, treatment compliance, and some other factors.</li><li>RESULTS: The results could lead to increase the clinicians' awareness about the clinical picture of this disorder in Iranian patients.</li><li>CONCLUSIONS: The present project could decrease to some extent the current shortcomings in Iran's psychiatric data at least about one of the major psychiatric disorders known as the eighth result which cause medical disability over the world.</li><li>KEYWORDS: Bipolar Disorder, Follow Up, Naturalistic Study, Outcome Study, Longitudinal Study, Iran.</li></ul> http://jrms.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrms/article/view/4616http://jrms.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrms/article/download/4616/1986