I believe that physicians in general, especially psychiatrists, must consider the entire person and the environment in which they live when treating an illness. This holistic approach recognizes that all elements of a system must be in balance for it to function efficiently. This is true whether the system is a single organ such as the brain, the entire person the brain resides in, or the family and society in which one lives.

However, the role of patients in today’s health care system is unclear. Overall, we have moved from a patriarchal model of medicine to a more patient-oriented model. However, patients are aware of another transition that has occurred in the health care system as the managed care model has thrived. Readers have probably experienced the feeling when seeing a physician that the less they complain, and the fewer questions they ask, the better.

Because of this phenomenon, another goal I have for my blog is to allow people to ask questions that they haven’t had a chance to ask of their own psychiatrists. Patients need to advocate for themselves at every doctor visit, and bipolar-connection.com offers readers the opportunity to become a part of a community focused on the challenges of living with bipolar disorder, and how to best obtain care from our health care system. While I can’t replace the management of a personal psychiatrist, I look forward to providing general information that will be helpful to many patients and family members.

In my role in this community, I will keep readers apprised of new developments in the management of bipolar disorder. I also encourage readers to submit questions they may have regarding the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. If you have a question that you would like me to discuss, email me at: support@bipolar-connection.com. I look forward to hearing from you.