[The results of questionnaire survey in the patients with affective disorders (European study)]

The project "Bipolar Educative Awareness Material (BEAM) included a questioning of 1732 patients with affective disorders from 11 European countries. In the present study, the results obtained in Russia are compared to total ones. Russian patients are featured by higher percentage of women and elderly as well as higher education level. The late age at disease onset and earlier diagnostics also were found. There was a significant difference in depression therapy: in most European countries antidepressant of last generation are used most frequently, however in Russia, standard neuroleptics and amitriptilin appear to be standard medications. This difference did not influence on a number of hospitalisations, which was the same both in Russian and BEAM groups. But significantly fewer patients questioned in Russia were satisfied with therapeutic efficacy. Besides, an extent of patient's involvement in public movements and educational programs in Russia was essentially lower, comparing to the total BEAM group, and the patients questioned were less aware of their disease.