The care needs of older patients with bipolar disorder

Objectives: With aging, bipolar disorder evolves into a more complex illness, with increasing cognitive impairment, somatic comorbidity, and polypharmacy. To tailor treatment of these patients, it is important to study their needs, as having more unmet needs is a strong predictor of a lower quality of life.Method: Seventy-eight Dutch patients with bipolar I or II disorder aged 60 years and older in contact with mental health services were interviewed using the Camberwell Assessment of Need in the Elderly (CANE) to assess met and unmet needs, both from a patient and a staff perspective.Results: Patients (mean age 68 years, range 61–98) reported a mean of 4.3 needs compared to 4.4 reported by staff, of which 0.8 were unmet according to patients and 0.5 according to staff. Patients frequently rated company and daytime activities as unmet needs. More current mood symptoms were associated with a higher total number of needs. Less social participation was associated with a higher total number of needs and more ...