Experiences of Mental Healthcare Reported by Individuals Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder: An Italian Qualitative Study

• Published in: Community mental health journal Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 129 - 136
• Main Authors: Vallarino, Martine, Rapisarda, Filippo, Scott, Jan, Vecchi, Tomaso, Barbato, Angelo, D’Avanzo, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Bipolar Disorder - therapy; Community and Environmental Psychology; Community Mental Health Services; Crisis intervention; Evidence based research; Evidence-based practice; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Services Accessibility; Health services utilization; Hospitalization; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Italy; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental health services; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Peer Group; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychiatry; Qualitative Research; Quality management; Quality of care; Social Support; Trauma; Traumatic life events; Italy; Qualitative research; Mental health care; Bipolar disorder; Italy; Users’ view; Psychosocial interventions
• ISSN: 0010-3853; 1573-2789; 1573-2789
• DOI: 10.1007/s10597-018-0311-3

This qualitative study explores experiences of mental health care by nine Italian users with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The findings from semi-structured interviews carried by professional researchers highlighted the following themes: mixed feelings about the diagnosis; lack of access to psychological interventions despite preferences of users; positive view of peer support, job as a safe haven, traumatic experiences of compulsory hospital admissions; need for crisis interventions as alternative to hospital admission. Most users’ views look in accordance with evidence-based recommendations seldom implemented in practice. Future research directions, implications of users’ expectations and experiences for service planning and quality improvement, are presented and discussed in the light of the qualitative available literature.