• Canada
• 2012-2021close
• Open Access close
• Greek, Modern (1453-) close

Bipolar disorder (BD) encompasses neuro-cognitive disturbances leading to psychological and social consequences affecting the quality of life of those suffering from it. However, the number of studies on the lived experience of people with BD about the treatment provided is relatively scant. The aim of this study is to investigate the lived experience of people with BD, focused on their perceptions and meanings about the treatment provided for their disorder. A qualitative, phenomenological design was applied. Following informed consent, thirteen people agreed to participate in the study, according to purposeful sampling and thematic saturation. Data collection was achieved through individual, semistructural interviews with open-ended questions, of a 30 minutes to an hour. The rigor of the analysis was validated according to Munhall's and van Manen's criteria. With regard to the main themes emerged, those revolved mainly around the social stigmatization following psychotropic medication. Further, the participants described anguish, fear and insecurity about the winding road nature of the disease, a condition that seemed to be worsened mainly due to discontinuation of medication, or alterations of the therapeutic schema. Interestingly, some of the participants described medication as a nutrient ingredient that kept them alive, thus revealing the importance they attached to psychotropic medication. Participants highlighted the importance of psychotropic medication, along with psychotherapy and personal effort, as well as education on topics related to psychopathology and treatment interventions for BD. Control over the clinical outcome of the disorder and self-management of the symptoms seem to be the ultimate need of people suffering from BD, with a core association to the effective medication and psycho-education. Based on that, interventions aiming to patients' education in self-management skills are suggested. Furthermore, interventions towards the sensitization of the community on the biological aspects of mental disorders are proposed, tackling issues as stigma and medication concerns.

Ο διάλογος είναι το σωστικό νήμα της ανθρωπότητας που την οδηγεί στη συνειδητότητά της. Είναι η δική σου φωνή και η φωνή του άλλου που συναντιούνται στο μεταίχμιο των δύο εγώ για να ενωθούν σε μια τρίτη φωνή και να δημιουργήσουν τη σκέψη, τον πολιτισμό και τη συνειδητότητα του κόσμου. Όσο ενωρύτερα μάθει ο άνθρωπος να χρησιμοποιεί το διάλογο, να θέτει αυθεντικά ερωτήματα και να χρησιμοποιεί την κριτική του σκέψη τόσο ενωρύτερα θα οδηγηθεί στην αυτογνωσία του και θα συμβάλλει συνειδητά στη συλλογική αλλαγή. Η πρώιμη παιδεία του διαλόγου μπορεί να καταστεί η καταλυτική δύναμη του λόγου η οποία θα διαμορφώσει νοηματοδοτημένες συνειδήσεις και θα οδηγήσει στην ατομική και συλλογική ελευθερία. Υπάρχει ελπίδα ο διάλογος να παίξει αποφασιστικό ρόλο στην ανακάλυψη της συνειδητότητας του ανθρώπου; Le dialogue est le fil qui conduit l'humanité à sa conscience. C'est ta voix et la voix de l'autre qui se rencontrent au croisement de deux egos pour s'unir dans une troisième voix et créer la pensée, la culture et la conscience du monde. Si un homme apprend à utiliser le dialogue, à poser des questions authentiques et à utiliser sa pensée critique, il peut atteindre son « autognosie », connaissance de soi, et contribuer consciemment au changement du monde. L'éducation précoce à travers le dialogue et la philosophie, peut être la force catalytique qui conduira l’homme à son « eudaimonia », bonheur, et façonnera la libre conscience, individuelle et collective. Y a-t-il de l'espoir que le dialogue puisse jouer un rôle décisif dans la découverte de la conscience de l`homme? Dialogue is the thread that leads humanity to consciousness. It is your voice and the voice of the other that meet at the crossroad of two egos to unite into a third voice and create the thought, culture and consciousness of the world. If a man learns to use dialogue, to ask authentic questions and to use his critical thinking, he can attain his "self-awareness", self-knowledge, and contribute consciously to change the world. Early education through dialogue and philosophy may be the catalytic force that will lead man to his "eudaimonia", happiness, and will shape the free conscience, individual and collective. Is there any hope that dialogue can play a decisive role in the discovery of man's consciousness?