Monitoring of mood stabilizing drugs for bipolar disorder in Australian general practice

Abstract

Objective:

To determine adherence to guidelines by general practitioners for monitoring mood stabilizing drugs in patients with bipolar disorder.

Method:

A postal survey of general practitioners was conducted in a metropolitan division of general practitioners.

Results:

Substantial numbers of general practitioners appear to not be following established guidelines for the monitoring of mood stabilising drugs.

Conclusion:

Greater educational input is required to enable general practitioners to optimise care for patients with chronic psychiatric disorder.

Keywords

bipolar disorder drug monitoring general practice.

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