ISBD Mexico: Capitulo Mexicano de la Sociedad Internacional de Trastornos Bipolares
Mission:
- Create a research network among Mexican mental health professionals interested in bipolar disorders.
- Promote awareness and education about bipolar disorders in the Mexican medical community.
- Increase efforts in psychoeducation and community resources for the Mexican bipolar patient.
- Help to promote ISBD values, publications and activities.
Website: isbdmexico.org
Meetings:
First Mexican Bipolar Disorders Conference
ISBD-Mexico, a regional chapter of ISBD, celebrated the first Mexican Bipolar Disorders Conference in Guadalajara , October 17-19. This was the first time a conference of its kind was held in Mexico, which generated high expectations and great amounts of enthusiasm among Mexican colleagues.
Professors Mauricio Tohen, Flávio Kapzcinski, Francesc Colom, and Gustavo Vázquez, were the distinguished international invited speakers who joined 14 noted Mexican speakers in leading an up-to date and well-rounded program of scientific lectures.
With an attendance of 145 colleagues and with members of two of the most prominent advocacy groups (Voz pro salud mental, and Bipolar libre), the main educational objective for the Mexican psychiatric community was accomplished. The ISBD support for the newly formed Mexican chapter was evident and the local community was motivated to participate and join the global Society.
A meeting of the ISBD affiliate Iberoamerican Network for Bipolar Disorders (IANBD) also took place at the conference venue. During this meeting, local representatives from , , and , under the guidance of Professor Mauricio Tohen, formalized the development of this important research and educational network that will present wonderful career opportunities for Latin American young physicians and the possibility for international research collaborations.
News:
Role of the Psychiatrist in the Education of the Bipolar Community:
ISBD Mexico Bipolar Connection Program
Manuel Sánchez de Carmona MD, Omar Kawas MD, Amado Nieto MD
ISBD MEXICO, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí
Patient and family education in bipolar disorders have been addressed as key factors to promote therapeutic adherence and favor relapse prevention. There is an important number of bipolar patients in Mexico that have few possibilities of acquiring adequate and current information of their disorder, also there is a dramatic sub-diagnosis of the disorder. It is a frequent mistake that family members are left out from psycho education programs, and many times they may also have the disorder and because of lesser symptomatology it remains undiagnosed until later complications.
Bipolar Connection Program was developed by ISBD MEXICO as non profit community educational program designed to reach patients and family members that need to receive and learn updated information about the disorder. The first stage of the program consists of a 120minute multimedia presentation that covers genetics, basic neuroscience information, symptoms, classification, mood charts, trigger identification, and key pharmacological treatment concepts. An audience of 800 patients and family members was targeted between Mexico´s 3 most important cities. The audience recruitment was achieved with collaboration of the main advocacy groups of the country and with media coverage.
The second stage of the program consists of developing free downloadable podcasts that contain highlights of the educational material, and printouts of life charts and easy to follow step guides in case of emergencies. The podcasts will be available in the Mexican Chapter´s webpage.