Mental Health Treatment Needs and Preferences for People Living with Bipolar Disorder in Australia

TL;DR

This study explores the treatment preferences and unmet needs of people with bipolar disorder in Australia, highlighting gaps in accessibility and affordability of care.

Contribution

The study directly assesses treatment preferences and unmet needs of Australians with bipolar disorder, which has not been previously documented.

Findings

Most participants preferred receiving treatment at home, followed by outpatient and inpatient settings.

Key unmet needs include affordability, resourcing, geographical access, timely access, education, and stigma reduction.

Abstract

People living with bipolar disorders may face a range of treatment challenges, however, the treatment needs of those living with bipolar disorder in Australia have not been directly assessed. The present study aimed to explore the treatment and care preferences of people living with bipolar disorder in Australia. Participants were part of a large co-designed survey that assessed preferred settings, barriers, and access to treatment. A total of 494 participants provided responses regarding preferred treatment settings with 188 (38%) preferring the public system, 175 (35%) private, and 153 (31%) indicating a preference for both/either private or public care. The setting that was most frequently endorsed was at home (n = 343; 69%), then outpatient (n = 155; 31%), and inpatient (n = 93; 19%). Affordability, resourcing, geographical and timely access, improving education and addressing stigma were reported as key unmet needs, indicating that more work is needed to improve access to care for Australians.