| Unfortunately, many people with bipolar | | | | They are called "real-world" studies for |
| symptoms are unable to get the treatment, | | | | several reasons. Unlike traditional clinical |
| medications and support they require due to | | | | trials, they offer multiple different |
| financial difficulties. There is an option, | | | | treatments and treatment combinations. |
| however. | | | | |
| | | | In addition, they aim to include large |
| Some people with bipolar disorder receive | | | | numbers of people with mental disorders |
| medication and/or psychosocial therapy at no | | | | living in communities throughout the U.S. and |
| charge by volunteering to participate in | | | | receiving treatment across a wide variety of |
| clinical studies (clinical trials). Clinical | | | | settings. Individuals with more than one |
| studies involve the scientific investigation | | | | mental disorder, as well as those with |
| of illness and treatment of illness in | | | | co-occurring physical illnesses, are |
| humans. | | | | encouraged to consider participating in these |
| | | | new studies. |
| Clinical studies in mental health can yield | | | | |
| information about the usefullness of a | | | | The main goal of the real-world studies is to |
| medication or a combination of treatments, | | | | improve treatment strategies and outcomes for |
| the efficacy of a behavioral intervention or | | | | all people with these disorders. |
| type of psychotherapy, the reliability of a | | | | |
| diagnostic procedure, or the success of a | | | | In addition to measuring improvement in |
| prevention method. | | | | illness symptoms, the studies will evaluate |
| | | | how treatments influence other important, |
| Clinical studies also guide scientists in | | | | real-world issues such as quality of life, |
| learning how illness develops, progresses, | | | | ability to work, and social functioning. They |
| lessens, and affects both mind and body. | | | | also will assess the cost-effectiveness of |
| Millions of Americans diagnosed with mental | | | | different treatments and factors that affect |
| illness lead healthy, productive lives | | | | how well people stay on their treatment |
| because of information discovered through | | | | plans. |
| clinical studies. | | | | |
| | | | The Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program |
| These studies are not always right for | | | | for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) is seeking |
| everyone, however. It is important for each | | | | participants for the largest-ever, |
| individual to consider carefully the possible | | | | "real-world" study of treatments for bipolar |
| risks and benefits of a clinical study before | | | | disorder. To learn more about STEP-BD or |
| making a decision to participate. | | | | other clinical studies, see the Clinical |
| | | | Trials page on the NIMH Web site at visit |
| In recent years, the National Institute of | | | | the National Library of Medicine's clinical |
| Mental Health (NIMH) has introduced a new | | | | trials database at or contact NIMH. |
| generation of "real-world" clinical studies. | | | | |