Bipolar disorder: educating for better self-management

by Dr Anna Hadjioannou, Lecturer in Clinical Communication, UNIC Medical School

Introduction by George Sycallides, Director of Communications, UNIC Health

BRIEF SUMMARY

The self-management of bipolar disorder (BD) through patient education is considered crucial for effective psychosocial rehabilitation. Dr Hadjioannou will explore the educational needs of individuals with BD, addressing a gap in data on this topic. Her investigation involved thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with twelve adults diagnosed with BD. Findings indicate that acquiring knowledge about BD is often an isolated process, with the internet frequently serving as the primary source of information, sometimes overshadowing professional healthcare advice. Participants highlighted the need for structured educational programmes and the importance of involving family members in the educational process.

Dr Hadjioannou will discuss these insights and advocate for enhanced educational strategies within mental health services.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Anna Hadjioannou is a Lecturer in Clinical Communication at the University of Nicosia Medical School. Dr Hadjioannou holds a PhD from the Nursing Department of the Cyprus University of Technology, specialising in Mental Health. She completed her postgraduate studies in Advanced Mental Nursing and Care (Advanced Mental Nurse Practitioner) at the Cyprus University of Technology and obtained her undergraduate degree in Nursing from the same university.

She also holds diplomas in Addiction Counselling from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, and in Empowerment of Chronic Patients from the University of Turku, Finland. She is a certified Psychotherapist specialising in the Cognitive-Behavioural approach. She has also received awards and scholarships from the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, the Cyprus Youth Organisation, and the Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association (CyNMA) for her scholarly work. Dr Hadjioannou’s research interests include empowering individuals with neurocognitive and neurobiological disorders to gain control over the management of their symptoms, as well as improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients.