Believe Quote by Kay Redfield Jamison
“Lithium remains the gold standard, but many drugs now treat bipolar disorder. Medication is critical and should be combined with psychotherapy. Compliance is a major problem. Patients believe that once they're better, they no longer need the medication. It doesn't work that way.”
About This Quote
Source Medical textbook: Bipolar disorder treatment, 2021
Medication alone is insufficient; combined therapy improves outcomes, but adherence is low
In simple terms: Both meds and therapy needed, but patients often stop meds
Key Takeaway
Ensure ongoing medication adherence alongside therapy
Themes
mental health
medication
psychotherapy
Mood
clinical
educational
Type
informative
empathetic
When to use this quote
- clinical practice
- patient counseling
- support groups
- healthcare policy
Key Concepts
treatment adherence
patient education
bipolar management
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies improve long‑term medication adherence?
- How can clinicians address patients' misconceptions about treatment?
A Different Perspective
Patients may fear side effects or stigma, reducing compliance
![“...even though [my psychiatrist] understood mor than anyone how much I felt I was losing--in energy, vivacity, and originality--by taking medication, he never was seduced into losing sight of the overall perspective of how costly, damaging, and life threatening my illness was. He was at ease with…” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57f/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_life_even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-m_3399.jpg)
