The effect of motivational interviewing on coping, functioning, treatment adherence and quality of life in patients with bipolar disorder

This study aimed to examine the effect of motivational interviewing on coping, functioning, treatment adherence and quality of life in patients with bipolar disorder. The study was designed as a parallel group randomized controlled trial with pretest-posttest and follow-up measurements. Simple randomization method was used in the study. The research was conducted at Pamukkale University Health Research and Application Center Habib Kızıltaş Psychiatric Hospital in the Community Mental Health Center between June 2022 and August 2023. The study was conducted with 48 individuals, including 24 intervention and 24 control groups. The data of the study were collected using a descriptive information form, Coping Attitudes Assessment Scale (COPE), Bipolar Disorder Functionality Scale (BDFS), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). The intervention group received 6 sessions of motivational interviewing. The control group did not receive any intervention. Data were evaluated as pre-intervention, post-intervention and 3 months after the intervention (follow-up). It was determined that the individuals in the intervention group had higher levels of COPE and WHOQOL-BREF-TR in the follow-up after the intervention and at the 3rd month after the intervention than those in the control group (p<0.05). It was determined that there was an increase in the post-intervention and 3-month post-intervention follow-up MMAS, WHOQOL-BREF, COPE and BDFS scores of those in the intervention group (p<0.05). Post-intervention WHOQOL-BREF and BDFS levels of those in the intervention group; After the intervention and at the 3rd month follow-up after the intervention, a statistically significant positive relationship was detected between MMAS and WHOQOL-BREF and BDFS levels (p<0.05). In this context, it was concluded that motivational interviewing is an important psychosocial intervention for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder to manage and cope with stress, to communicate more effectively, to improve their level of functionality in daily life activities, to adapt to treatment, to prevent disease relapses and repeated hospitalizations and to improve quality of life. It is thought that psychiatric nurses' application of motivational interviewing on the basis of therapeutic relationship will increase the quality of life and functioning of bipolar disorder patients and it is recommended that this application should be expanded in psychiatric clinics.