Advocate Aurora Research Institute is launching a new research study aimed at understanding trends of individuals with schizophrenic and bipolar disorder who were treated at Advocate Aurora Health.
The study, led by principal investigator Veronica Fitzpatrick, DrPH, will analyze treatment regimens, outcomes and medical charges for patients with either diagnosis. The analyses will include a patient’s history both before and after diagnosis. All patient data will be deidentified for publication.
“Our research study will help us understand how Advocate Aurora clinicians are diagnosing patients with these disorders, how diagnoses and treatments have changed over time, the impact of different treatments, and the associated charges,” said Dr. Fitzpatrick, research scientist. “Our hope is that these data will lead to actionable insights, such as recommendations for earlier, more accurate diagnosis and effective treatments.”
Schizophrenia is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder affecting about 1% of the U.S. population. It is most often associated with delusions, hallucinations and cognitive impairments that can interfere with a person’s thoughts, emotions, decision-making and relationships. Schizophrenia’s high rate of relapse leads to a high rate of hospital readmissions and increased pressure on hospital resources.
Bipolar disorders are also thought to be progressive, with cycles of fluctuations between manic and depressive episodes potentially leading to declines in cognition and treatment response. Medications and lifestyle changes can be relatively effective treatments for bipolar disorders. However, similar to other chronic diseases, patients may struggle to adhere to these treatments, which can worsen the symptoms, as can inappropriately prescribed medications. For example, antidepressants may induce manic episodes. This is a challenge for physicians, as bipolar disorders can have similar symptoms to depression, which is commonly treated with antidepressants. Around 2.8% of the U.S. population has a bipolar diagnosis.
“These two disorders are difficult to diagnose and treat and can significantly interfere with daily life,” said Mindy Waite, PhD, senior staff scientist, who is contributing to the study. “Patients with these disorders are more likely to have a substance use disorder, struggle to keep a job or engage in suicidal ideations or attempts. What’s more, these disorders can be very expensive and stressful for patients and their families.”
For the study, the researchers will evaluate if certain patient characteristics – such as age, race, provider type or insurance type – are associated with these diagnoses, and if there are any correlations in these patients’ co-occurring or previous diagnoses and previous or current prescriptions.
Researchers will also collect data on schizophrenia and bipolar patients’ relapse rates, underlying comorbidities, annual health care utilization and response to different treatments.
This study will include patients of all ages with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who sought treatment from Advocate Aurora between January of 2012 and August of 2021. An analysis of the electronic health record indicated that more than 20,000 potentially relevant patients had contact with Advocate Aurora during that time frame.
The study is titled “Clinical characteristics, management practices, and outcomes of serious mental illness: A retrospective cohort study of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at Advocate Aurora Health.”
To learn more about Advocate Aurora’s research, visit aurora.org/research.