The collaborative care practice model in the long-term care of individuals with bipolar disorder: a case study

Effective therapies for the long-term care of individuals with bipolar disorder feature medication management and an interactional component between patients and care providers. In this paper, we discuss the effectiveness of applying a collaborative practice model to the long-term care of individuals with bipolar disorder who receive outpatient treatment. The model emphasizes that patients are co-managers of their illness and successful outcomes are enhanced within a supportive social environment. Key elements include joint patient-provider treatment planning and decision making. Several controlled trials have demonstrated that when the model is adopted, significant improvements in clinical and functional outcomes can be achieved. The paper concludes with a case study, which illustrates that the model can be successfully implemented in a clinical setting. Given that the clinical and research evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of the model, we suggest that advanced practice psychiatric nurses apply key elements of the collaborative practice model in their work with clients with bipolar disorder.