Living with bipolar affective disorder is an ongoing battle for the patient and those around him. Many people, however, lead successful and productive lives with the right treatment. Treatment for this disorder is provided by a psychiatrist who specializes in bipolar affective disorder, usually specializing further with a pediatric practice or an adult and geriatric practice. Ohio is fortunate to have a number of psychiatrists who specialize in this illness. Finding a bipolar specialist who will best serve a patient's needs can be crucial to receiving the best treatment. Criteria to look for when choosing a bipolar specialist includes ongoing expertise, board certification, education, hospital affiliations, appointments and associations, experience, and even patient ratings.
Learning about Bipolar Affective Disorder
The best way to make good decisions for treatment is to educate yourself about this disorder. Over the last decade, knowledge of mental illnesses and how the brain works has increased exponentially. New research has produced a deeper understanding of bipolar affective disorder and resulted in new treatments. When looking for a psychiatrist specializing in this disorder, make sure he is aware of these new treatments. Knowing what questions to ask and what information to look for in choosing a bipolar specialist results in choosing a specialist who can best serve your needs.
What is Board Certification?
The first criteria to check is "board certification." This is achieved through a process of initial certification in this specialty, and ongoing maintenance of that certification through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or ABPN. According to ABPN's website, a board-certified psychiatrist is someone who has "specialized skills and knowledge to diagnose and treat problems ranging from emergencies to the long-term medical management of psychiatric disorders." This means that the bipolar specialist is not only continually keeping abreast of new developments in his field but is actively contributing to that body of knowledge.
Medical Schools/Education
Another criteria to include in your search for a specialist in bipolar affective disorder is the education the doctor has received. As well as which medical school he attended, check to see if his residency included working in this specialty and how much experience he has. A doctor's education consists of a four-year program at a medical school, one year of internship at an accredited hospital, and a one- to three-year residency in a field of specialization. "U.S. News & World Report" maintains an annual list of America's top medical schools.
Hospital Affiliation and Rating
When choosing your doctor, look at which hospitals he is affiliated with. Things to look for are the hospital ranking in this specialty, what facilities the hospital has for your illness, what other doctors practice in that hospital, and if the hospital is in a convenient location for you. The Consumer's Guide to Quality Health Care in Ohio provides a range of research links from which to gather this information.
Rating your Bipolar Specialist
Complete ratings on individual psychiatrists in Ohio can be found online. Ohio's Health Care Guide provides information such as length of practice, board certification, sanctions or disciplinary actions, education, as well as patient ratings. If a specialist is contributing to research about bipolar affective disorder through publications, it shows he is actively involved in finding the best methods of treatment.
