Primary care bipolar treatment could slash NHS costs

A study led by Professor Allan Young of Imperial College London found emergency hospitalisation accounted for 60% of the £342m cost of the disorder in 2009/10.

Treating more patients in primary care could cut the cost of the illness in line with the government’s efficiency savings agenda, he said.

The study showed that just 27% of funds are spent on outpatient and community mental health services, with only 7% spent on medication in primary care.

Professor Young said patients were too often trapped in a ‘vicious cycle of relapse and recovery’.

‘A community-based approach employing evidence-based strategies such as psycho-education, physical health management and effective drug treatment can support patients from the time of diagnosis and help prevent recurrent acute episodes of crisis.’