Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder with depressive, manic or hypomanic episodes,
which is completely normal or thought to be associated with minimal symptom levels, and is
known to cause high mortality, morbidity, and loss of function in almost all areas. Gaining
functionality in patients with bipolar disorder, improving their compliance with treatment
and quality of life, and helping them to cope with stress are among the most important goals
of treatment.
In individuals with bipolar disorder, stressful life events can lead to early onset of the
disease, more frequent depression, psychotic symptoms, and problems such as anxiety. It is
stated that patients with bipolar disorder have problems in interpersonal relationships and
problems in coping with stress. When patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in
remission encounter a stressful life event, their functionality in the areas of work/school,
family, and friends may be affected or even impaired.
Since bipolar disorder is a chronic disease, it is stated that it affects people's lives in
terms of their functionality during remission periods as well as during attacks.
Marriage-related problems, economic difficulties and substance use, together with the risk of
suicide and irregular work history, can cause dysfunction in patients in wide psychosocial
areas. It has been reported that the quality of life of patients whose functionality is
impaired during the remission period also deteriorates.
Due to the early onset of bipolar disorder, the length of time until diagnosis, and
inadequate treatment, it harms patients in terms of quality of life and expected psychosocial
development. It is stated that depressive symptoms, being a woman, the length of time until
the diagnosis, low socioeconomic and educational level are factors that increase the
deterioration in the quality of life in rural areas in patients with bipolar disorder. In
addition, the presence of another comorbidity accompanying bipolar disorder (anxiety,
alcohol-substance addiction, etc.) also affects the quality of life. However, when the
clinical studies on the disorder are examined, it is seen that the lack of compliance of the
patients with the treatment causes the quality of life to deteriorate.
In bipolar disorder, low treatment compliance is caused by the patient's insufficient insight
into the disease, reservations about the drug, negative clinical course of the disease,
insufficient social and environmental support, economic difficulties, insufficient
information about treatment, unfavorable conditions of the living environment or treatment
center, the patient's and his/her environment's drug addiction. treatment and attitude
towards bipolar disorder, prejudices caused by drug use in society, and cultural beliefs.
Poor therapeutic relationship, poor quality of life, impaired functioning, ineffective coping
methods, and lack of motivation It is associated with poor adjustment (to symptoms,
treatment, and environment) in patients with bipolar disorder. In order to achieve better
compliance and results, the therapeutic relationship, coping skills, quality of life and
functionality should be improved by increasing the motivation of individuals. Nurses need to
establish a therapeutic relationship in order for the nursing care to produce effective
results during the recovery process of these patients.
In this study, it is thought that Motivational Interviewing may be effective in increasing
effective coping skills, functionality, adherence to treatment and quality of life in
patients with bipolar disorder, and may shed light and guide psychiatric nursing
interventions.