Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar experience high and low moods—known as mania and depression—which differ from the typical ups-and-downs most people experience.

It affects more than 1% of the population and is usually a lifelong disease. Successfully managing these patients can be difficult because this chronic, recurrent illness ultimately depends on maintaining long-term mood stability.

Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of maintenance treatments, breakthrough episodes are common, and likely due to treatment nonadherence. Nearly 83% of bipolar patients have a history of non-adherence.

When bipolar patients find an effective treatment and can avoid the stress of unwanted side effects, they thrive.