Non-adherence is common in the management of severe mental disorders like bipolar disorder. The chronicity combined with the cyclical nature of bipolar disorder and the lack of illness awareness found in some bipolar patients often encourages pharmacological treatment nonadherence.
Other factors like, side effects, duration of treatment, number of different medications can also influence the risk for medication withdrawal. Although clinicians acknowledge treatment nonadherence to be a major issue in these disorder, assessing nonadherence is difficult and improving treatment adherence is a complicated matter.
Different studies in bipolar disorder have showed as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy, psychoeducation is promising management that increases treatment adherence and quality of life for patients. Moreover, the involvement of family in the groups should be routinely offered to all patients.