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Bipolar Disorders

Objectives

This academic workplace is the first one in the Netherlands. The aim is to contribute to restoration and maintenance of health and well being of patients with bipolar disorders (manic depressive illness) and others involved, through research, health care innovation, education and health advocacy. The workplace is embedded within GGZ ingest, which is a large (2300 employees) mental health institution, covering the region surrounding the VUmc. The workplace is situated on two locations (Amsterdam and Hoofddorp).

Collaborations

There is a close collaboration with the Dutch Foundation for Bipolar Disorders ( DFBD, a merger of the Kenniscentrum Bipolaire Stoornissen en de LithiumPlusWerkGroep). With this collaboration national research projects will be developed.

There is also a long tradition in collaboration with internal medicine, although there are no current research projects at the moment. New research projects will be developed. With Hogeschool INHolland a collaboration (doctoral research) started in the field of the (cost-)effectiveness of a collaborative care program for patients with bipolar disorders.

Results

In 2008 a start was made to develop an care pathway for bipolar patients. A care pathway is a collection of methods and tools to guide the members of a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team towards patient focused collaboration for a specific patient population. It is a way of identifying and defining the different tasks of the different team members. The goal is to assure qualitative and efficient care and it is a tool to systematically plan and follow-up a patient focused care program.
Current research projects concern ‘The effect of alcohol, drugs and stimulants on the course and outcome in patients with bipolar disorders’  and ‘The detection of bipolar disorders in patient who seek treatment in addiction centers’. Both studies are part of a doctoral research project.

In collaboration with the DFBD an annual master class (5 days) is organised to train nursing staff in the field of bipolar disorders.

Contact information

J. van Zaane, psychiatrist; E-mail: j.vanzaane@ggzingeest.nl