Bipolar survey indicates how patient satisfaction is achieved

Preliminary results from a large-scale global study of people living with bipolar disorder, presented today at the World Congress of Biological Psychiatry (WCBP), found that patient satisfaction with treatment is achieved through combining broad-based efficacy with a favourable tolerability profile.

The Thinking Ahead Survey, included 687 bipolar patients from seven countries (UK, US, Germany, Italy, Canada, Spain and Greece). These preliminary results indicate that:

• 88% of respondents said drug treatment satisfaction is largely influenced by how effective it is, followed then by patients experiencing few or manageable side effects (77%)
• 79% of respondents believe that a successful treatment would be one which leads to significant quality of life changes in terms of increased functionality and improved lifestyle.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a severe biological disorder that affects approximately 3-4% of the adult population. More than half of those with bipolar disorder stop taking their medication at some point during their illness, subjecting themselves to a high risk of relapse and an increased risk of suicide.

"As someone who lives with bipolar disorder I need a treatment which can control the manic symptoms but also treat the more disabling depressive symptoms," comments Michael Grinter, SEROQUEL patient and Thinking Ahead Taskforce member. "The treatment that I am currently taking, SEROQUEL, has brought an enormous benefit to my life in terms of controlling both poles of my mood and has enabled me to return to work and live a fully functioning life. It has provided me with the confidence to enjoy each day again."

Recently-published SEROQUEL (quetiapine) data in the Journal of Current Medical Research and Opinion confirm SEROQUEL's efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of bipolar mania symptoms, as a single agent.8

The announcement of these landmark survey results coincides with other important data presented at the WCBP, which address the clinical benefits that SEROQUEL offers bipolar disorder consumers. The preliminary data show that patients with bipolar depression taking SEROQUEL:

• Showed a statistically significant decrease in levels of depression, as measured by the MADRS score from week one through to the end of the study. This study included rapid-cycling patients who often experience symptoms that are more severe and harder to treat than non rapid-cycling patients
• Showed significantly greater improvement in anxiety symptoms versus placebo, as measured using the HAM-A rating scale
• Showed significantly greater improvement in quality of life over placebo by week four (at doses of both 300mg and 600mg), as measured by the Q-LES-Q SF

"The preliminary results from the Thinking Ahead Survey are extremely important and reflect the need for efficacious and well-tolerated treatments to help people living with bipolar disorder to experience real quality of life benefits in terms of symptom control, minimised side effects, and enhanced functioning," comments Dr Eduard Vieta from the University of Barcelona and Thinking Ahead taskforce member. "The data presented this week on SEROQUEL offers real hope for bipolar patients. We know that SEROQUEL can provide broad-based efficacy and trusted tolerability in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which allows us to be confident that patients will comply with their treatment in the long-term, thereby significantly improving the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome."

SEROQUEL is licensed in 70 countries for the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder, including the US, Canada and several European countries. SEROQUEL has also been licensed for the treatment of schizophrenia since 1997 and is available in 82 countries for the treatment of this condition. To date, more than 8 million people have been treated with SEROQUEL worldwide.

SEROQUEL is not currently licensed for the treatment of bipolar depression. Further updated survey results from the Thinking Ahead Survey will be presented later this year.