More frequent lithium testing in UK Primary Care associates with a lower hospital admission rate for bipolar disorder—What this can tell us about GP practice engagement with this group

Bipolar affective disorder is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and carries a substantial risk of suicide. Here we determined for GP practices in one area of England, the relation of the interval between lithium level checks at GP practice level and psychiatric admission rate for inpatient treatment, for people with bipolar affective disorder monitored at each GP surgery. We found that the more frequently the tests are requested at the GP practice, the lower the number of admissions per individual. This is relevant to everyday clinical practice and supports the implementation of measures to ensure GP practice engagement with people with bipolar disorder, in order to reduce hospital admissions in this condition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.