STRIVING FOR STABILITY WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER DESPITE BARRIERS

A conceptual model was developed during interviews with 33 participant s that depicts the processes of information search and self-management of hospitalized people with bipolar disorder, Grounded theory methodo logy guided data collection and analysis, Barriers were reported as en countered throughout the processes; denial of the disorder was the mos t prevalent obstacle, Critical areas of intervention are helping the p erson accept the disorder and achieving the basis to be motivated for self-management. Recommendations are for relapse reduction programs to be structured on the awareness that relapse is most likely to occur w hen barriers are encountered, and that people with the disorder percei ve barriers to be everywhere. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Comp any