Development of the education and support program for bipolar disorder caregivers

An intervention program was designed to provide education and social support to primary caregivers of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Caregivers experience burden and distress from such sources as the extreme behavior of the bipolar patient, the consequences of mood episodes, financial hardships, and stigma. The program consists of psychoeducation, skills training, and relationship building with peers and the community mental health services (CMHS) that provide treatment to the patient. The program's goals include reducing caregiver burden, enhancing caregiver's coping skills, and increasing the caregiver's abilities to help manage the patient's symptoms and functioning. The program is designed to be implemented in CMHS catchment areas that currently lack caregiver-focused programming. Stakeholder needs, proposed interventions, and implications are discussed.