Treatment Decision Aid for Patients with Bipolar II Disorder (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists

Course By: Julie Laken Harnisher, Ph.D.

Content By: Fisher, A., Sharpe, L., Anderson, J., Manicavasagar, V., & Juraskova, I. (2018). Development and pilot of a decision-aid for patients with bipolar II disorder and their families making decisions about treatment options to prevent relapse. PLOS ONE, 13(7): e0200490. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200490

Course Description: Treatment decisions for bipolar II disorder are multi-faceted and should take into account patient preferences along with the risks and benefits of each treatment protocol. The accompanying pilot study evaluated a decision aid booklet designed to summarize information about available treatments for bipolar II disorder and to help patients make informed decisions regarding their desired treatment. Quantitative and qualitative analyses indicated that patients and their families found the decision aid to be an informative, balanced, helpful, and easy to use addition to the treatment planning process. A randomized controlled trial is recommended to determine the efficacy of the decision aid booklet for a larger population of patients and their families.

Learning Objectives:

1. Specify why a pilot study of a treatment decision aid for patients with bipolar II disorder and their families was necessary in consideration of the state of the literature.
2. Evaluate the data and concomitant results.
3. Appraise the main study conclusions in consideration of the resultant statistical findings.
4. Apply the primary findings regarding the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of a decision aid for patients with bipolar II disorder to individuals with differing demographic characteristics or symptom profiles than those of the sample in the accompanying study.
5. Integrate the discussed study limitations with the identified study findings, areas suggested for future research, and implications for use.

Course Outline:

• Read and understand Development and pilot of a decision-aid for patients with bipolar II disorder and their families making decisions about treatment options to prevent relapse.
• Read the Course Description and Learning Objectives.
• Understand why the authors thought that a decision aid for patients with bipolar II disorder was necessary and how to translate findings from the pilot study to benefit the larger intended population of individuals with bipolar II disorder.
• Work through the post-test questions; answer selections should be derived from the accompanying article.
• Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to further understand the development and pilot study of a decision-aid to assist patients with bipolar II disorder and their families as they make decisions regarding treatment options.

Approvals: