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How bipolar disorders are managed in family practice: self-assessment survey.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate family physicians' experience in diagnosing and managing bipolar disorder, how they rate their undergraduate and postgraduate training in this area, and what they think they need to learn in the future.


DESIGN
Survey questionnaire.


SETTING
Family practices in London, Ont.


PARTICIPANTS
Random sample of 297 family physicians.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Physicians' experience in diagnosing and managing patients with bipolar disorder, rating of their undergraduate and postgraduate training in this area, and thoughts about what they need to learn in the future.


RESULTS
Of 297 surveys sent out, 147 (49.5%) were returned. Male respondents accounted for 62%, and female respondents 37%, of completed surveys. Average year of graduation from medical school was 1979. The most common response for level of experience in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorders was "somewhat comfortable." Physicians frequently reported screening for symptoms of mood disorders (42%), and most of them were sharing care with other professionals (88%). Undergraduate training was rated as poor (42%) or satisfactory (46%), and postgraduate training was rated as poor (42%) or satisfactory (44%). Physicians thought they needed more education in issues of diagnosis and pharmacotherapy.


CONCLUSION
Family physicians were only somewhat comfortable with diagnosing and managing bipolar disorders, and most thought their undergraduate and graduate training in this area had been, at best, satisfactory. They expressed a need for more education in the areas of diagnosis and pharmacotherapy.