A Meta-Study of Qualitative Research Into the Experience of ‘Symptoms’ and ‘Having a Diagnosis’ for People Who Have Been Given a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

Leo Russell,Duncan Moss

doi:10.5964/ejop.v9i3.675

Abstract

A Meta-Study of Qualitative Research Into the Experience of ‘Symptoms’ and ‘Having a Diagnosis’ for People Who Have Been Given a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

Highlights

This study seeks to develop ways of understanding the experience of ‘symptoms’ associated with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and of the experience of diagnosis itself
The purpose of this study is to review the current state of the literature reporting qualitative studies that depict to the experiences of ‘symptoms’ and ‘having a diagnosis’ for people who have been given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder
Two of the studies [1,2] reflected on a sense of confusion that comes from the discontinuity of moods experienced by people who are given the diagnosis of bipolar disorder; “I had different personalities all over the place that were out of character for the person who had been so happy a couple of months ago” (1, p. 129)

Summary

Introduction

This study seeks to develop ways of understanding the experience of ‘symptoms’ associated with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and of the experience of diagnosis itself. The use of this diagnosis as a reference point is a practical solution to the problem of identifying literature that included participants with similar kinds of distress and experiences that are perceived to be unusual. Bipolar Disorder as a Psychiatric Diagnosis — Bipolar disorder is a commonly applied diagnosis of a mental health problem with prevalence rates between 1-1.5% (Jones, 2004).

Methods

Results

Conclusion