Prodromal symptoms of a first manic episode: a qualitative study to the perspectives of patients with bipolar disorder and their caregivers'.

Background: Diagnosing bipolar disorder (BD) is challenging, and adequate treatment is of major importance to minimalize the consequences of the illness. Early recognition is one way to address this. Although in clinical research the prodromal phase of BD is gaining interest, the perspective of patients with BD and their caregivers on prodromal symptoms is still lacking.

A HTA of what? Reframing through including patient perspectives in health technology assessment processes.

Objectives: Despite increasing emphasis on the inclusion of patient input in health technology assessment (HTA) in Europe in particular, questions remain as to the integration of patient insight alongside other HTA inputs. This paper aims to explore how HTA processes, while ensuring the scientific quality of assessments, "make do" with patient knowledge elicited through patients' involvement mechanisms.

Methods: The qualitative study analyzed institutional HTA and patient involvement in four European country contexts.

A caregiver's perspective on clinically relevant symptoms in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia: tools for disease management and trial design.

Background: Adequate detection of symptoms and disease progression in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is complex. Dementia cohorts usually utilize cognitive and functional measures, which fail to detect dominant behavioural and social cognitive deficits in bvFTD. Moreover, since patients typically have a loss of insight, caregivers are important informants.

Stigma, lost opportunities, and growth: Understanding experiences of caregivers of persons with mental illness in Tamil Nadu, India.

This study aimed to address gaps in understanding of the lived experiences of caregivers of persons with mental illness in low-income countries. It was conducted among caregivers of persons with mental illness making use of a free non-governmental clinic in and around Chennai, India. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, with semi-structured interviews and life history exercises (n = 29) and six focus group discussions with caregivers (n = 21) and mental health professionals and community-based workers (n = 39).

Factors associated with homelessness among women: a cross-sectional survey of outpatient mental health service users at The Banyan, India.

Background: Homelessness has multifaceted and damaging effects on women with mental illness. This makes it imperative to identify and address the factors leading to homelessness among women with mental illness in order to inform policy on providing relevant services for this vulnerable population.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 346 women in active contact with one of four outpatient clinics at The Banyan, a non-profit organization in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.