Experts at a programme on Tuesday said most of the patients suffering from bipolar disorder in the country still remain untreated mainly due to inadequate psychiatrists, limited infrastructures and meagre funding.
Lack of awareness and social stigma involving such psychological complications are also responsible for this, they observed.
The observations came at a ceremony organised by Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP) in association with its logistics and scientific partner Sanofi Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area to unveil the guidelines for the management of bipolar disorder.
Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr ABM Khurshid Alam was the chief guest at the event who left a recorded video message.
Chaired by BAP president Dr. Md. Waziul Alam Chowdhury, the ceremony was also addressed, among others, by DGHS director Dr Md Robed Amin, NDDP Trust chairperson Dr Md Golam Rabbani and chairman of Scientific Committee of BAP Brig Gen (retd) Prof. Dr Md Azizul Islam.
Prof. Dr Sultana Algin of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) made a keynote presentation on the topic while BAP general secretary Dr. Md. Tariqul Alam moderated the discussion.
According to the keynote, bipolar disorder is a group of chronic and complex disorders of mood characterised by a combination of manic, hypomanic and depressive episodes usually with inter episodic recovery.
It also said the national mental health survey-2018-19 revealed that 0.4 per cent of adults are suffering from bipolar disorder.
The new guidelines will help psychiatrists as well as other physicians to treat the patients in a setting with low resources.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Md Robed Amin urged the BAP to turn the guideline into a national one by adding more resources.
He said DGHS is also interested to extend its support for the initiative. "The government has been prioritising the country's healthcare sector with great emphasis on mental health," he added.
