CME LLC Offers Primary Care Physicians the Latest Insights on Bipolar Disorder

CME LLC announced today the launch
of the Lifelong Learning Initiative on Bipolar Disorder, a full curriculum of
continuing medical education programs, running nationwide through December.
The Lifelong Learning Initiative is geared toward primary care physicians and
addresses the importance of a collaborative approach to the diagnosis and
management of bipolar disorder along with the latest findings in screening and
best practices regarding treatment. Each educational activity highlights a
particular aspect of bipolar disorder and provides clinicians with a complete
overview of this pervasive, highly misdiagnosed illness. The need for such
education is evident by the fact that 69 percent of bipolar patients are
misdiagnosed-usually with major depression-which can have life-altering
consequences.(1)


"Research clearly shows that bipolar disorder is among the most difficult
illnesses to diagnose," said Marsha Meyer, RPh, senior vice president of
clinical information for CME LLC. "Patients frequently seek a physician's
care when they're in a state of depression, not elated with mania-the other
hallmark of bipolar disorder-so without careful assessment to uncover the full
spectrum of patients' histories, physicians often misdiagnose them as
suffering solely from major depressive disorder rather than bipolar disorder."



Recent studies show that approximately five percent of the U.S. population
struggles with bipolar disorder (2), a much higher incidence than previously
estimated, but strides have been made that make efforts to diagnose this
disorder much more effective. CME's Lifelong Learning Initiative on Bipolar
Disorder fills a critical void in medical education, bringing primary care
clinicians the latest psychiatric findings on this disorder, as they are
usually a patient's first point of contact.



The Lifelong Learning Initiative on Bipolar Disorder shares vital new
findings with primary care physicians around the country by focusing primarily
on two components: methods for identifying and diagnosing bipolar disorder and
emerging best practices for treating the illness. The curriculum also
provides insights on the benefits of collaboration between primary care and
mental health specialists in treating this complex illness. While primary
care physicians are often the first to recognize depression in their patients,
symptoms of bipolar disorder can resemble those related to schizophrenia,
borderline personality or even ADHD. Consequently, 35 percent of bipolar
patients have to wait 10-12 years before receiving an accurate diagnosis.(3)
CME designed this learning initiative to positively impact earlier diagnoses
and ultimately help patients suffering from the disorder get the care they
need.
















Clinicians are encouraged to participate in as many activities as possible
to receive the full educational benefit of this curriculum, while earning as
many as 29.75 credits. Individual events include half-day meetings and dinner
meetings, teleconferences, online programs, enduring supplements and other
multimedia activities that cover such critical issues as diagnostic strategies
for bipolar disorder, safety and efficacy of available therapies,
collaborative care, and many others. An ongoing outcomes study will be
conducted prior to, immediately after and three to six months following the
completion of the full curriculum. Primary care physicians and other
healthcare professionals can register for events, participate in each
"Activity of the Month," track credits and learn more about these important
patient care issues at bipolar.cmellc.



CME's Lifelong Learning Initiative on Bipolar Disorder is supported by an
unrestricted educational grant from AstraZeneca.


About CME LLC


CME LLC is a leading ACCME-accredited provider of continuing medical
education programs and offers a wide range of informational and educational
resources for healthcare professionals. Based in Irvine, Calif., CME produces
a variety of conferences, multimedia home-study products and Web sites and is
the sponsor of the U.S. Psychiatric & Mental Health Congress and the Issues in
Aging Medical Congress. For additional information, visit CME online at
CMELLC.


1. According to a 2000 survey by the National Manic and Manic-Depressive
Association.


2. Hirschfeld RM, Calabrese, JR, Weissman MM et al. (2003), J Clin
Psychiatry 64(1):53-58.


3. Hirschfeld RM, Lewis L, Vornik LA (2003), J Clin Psychiatry 64(2):
161-174.


SOURCE CME LLC

bipolar.cmellc

CMELLC