The impact of Bipolar Disorder on gaining and maintaining employment: occupational therapists’ perspectives of using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as an intervention to assist individuals with bipolar to gain employment

Abstract

Bipolar Disorder is a chronic mental health condition that mainly effects a person’s mood and, therefore is characterised as a mood disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM – 5) (Mind 2018). This dissertation’s wider aim is to discuss and explore the impact of bipolar disorder on a persons’ ability to gain or sustain employment and consider some of the main barriers they may face in life. It also aims to discover what treatment options are available within occupational therapy to support and assist people to break down some of these barriers to employment. In order to meet the research aim, a generic qualitative design will be used to understand the perspectives and experiences of occupational therapists working in a mental health setting who have been trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The researcher aims to provide current knowledge for an occupational therapy evidence base by using a focus group to gather information from the participants. Limitations will also be discussed throughout the literature review and research proposal in order to show full consideration of the topic and provide a balanced viewpoint.