– Respondents Reported Physical and Psychosocial
Impacts of Living with Bipolar I Disorder and Side Effects of
Medications Used to Treat the Disease –
– More Than Half of Respondents Reported Trying Five or
More Medications During Their Treatment Journey –
– 80% of Respondents Agreed They Wished There Were
Medication Options that Relieved Their Bipolar I Disorder Symptoms
with Fewer Side Effects –
DUBLIN, Jan. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a newly
released survey provide insights from adults living with bipolar I
disorder (BD-I)* in the United States (U.S.) on the
burden of living with this serious mental health condition and
their experiences with treatment. This research was conducted in
support of Alkermes' commitment to understanding the unique needs
of people living with BD-I and supporting increased disease
awareness and education.
The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll during
August 2021 on behalf of Alkermes,
Inc., a subsidiary of Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS), and in
collaboration with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
(DBSA), a not-for-profit organization that provides support to
people who live with depression and bipolar disorder, as well as to
their friends and family.
"Living with and managing bipolar I disorder can be a profoundly
challenging experience, but it is important to remember that people
with this condition can lead stable, enjoyable and fulfilling
lives," said Michael Pollock, Chief
Executive Officer of DBSA. "The perspectives shared through this
survey by people living with bipolar I disorder underscore the need
for effective medications and the importance of considering the
unique needs and experiences of individuals living with this
disease – whether physical, mental or social – as people work with
their healthcare providers to evaluate treatment options."
Key findings from the survey include:
- Survey respondents reported that living with BD-I can be a
difficult and isolating experience that impacts many aspects of
their lives. Approximately four of five respondents (81%)
agreed** that they felt like no one understands what they are going
through living with BD-I and more than three-quarters of
respondents (77%) agreed that living with BD-I makes them feel
isolated and alone. Among respondents living with BD-I who had been
employed or in school, 51% said they were less productive at work
or at school and 47% had tried to hide their condition from
colleagues or classmates.
- Survey respondents cited a wide variety of
concerns related to managing their BD-I. When asked what
worried them most in managing their disease, respondents' most
cited responses were sleep quality (28%), motivation and energy to
do things they enjoy (28%), and frequency of depressive symptoms or
episodes (27%).
- Finding the right treatment can be a lengthy and difficult
process. Nearly all respondents (98%) said that effectiveness or
symptom relief was somewhat or very important when it comes to
making decisions about medication. Despite this, finding the right
treatment can be challenging and take a long time. More than half
of respondents (54%) had tried five or more medications, including
nearly one in five (17%) who had tried more than 10 medications as
part of their treatment journey. In addition, 47% of respondents
who experienced side effects of antipsychotic medication said that
they had often or sometimes taken medication to manage such side
effects. Further, more than three-quarters of respondents (78%)
agreed that it had taken them a very long time to feel like their
BD-I medication regimen worked for them and 70% of respondents
agreed that it had been difficult to find a BD-I medication that
worked really well for them.
- The vast majority of respondents (93%) said they
experienced medication side effects, and of those respondents, 95%
said that those side effects have had a negative impact on some
aspect of their life. Of those who experienced medication side
effects, the three most reported side effects were weight gain
(56%), anxiety (56%), and drowsiness and sleepiness (53%); these
three side effects were also rated as the most bothersome.
Respondents who experienced side effects reported negative impacts
on their motivation and energy to do the things they enjoy (41%),
sleep quality (34%), and sexual desire or functioning (22%).
Finally, 80% agreed that they wish there were medication options
that relieved their BD-I symptoms with fewer side effects.
Despite the challenges that some people living with BD-I face in
their treatment journey, many respondents (75%) reported feeling
well-managed on their then-current BD-I medication regimen.
For a visual representation of the data discussed in this
release, please see an infographic at
www.alkermes.com/getmedia/1ecd5909-c321-47d2-ad6a-a2294d50376e/Harris-BD1-Survey_Patient-Infographic_FINAL.pdf.
"This research reveals that respondents living with BD-I face a
variety of challenges, from the symptoms of their disease to the
side effects of medications, and many have tried numerous
medications to treat the disorder," said Kathy Steinberg, Vice President of Research at
The Harris Poll. "These data underscore the importance of efficacy
and symptom relief to respondents with bipolar I disorder; and also
that side effects of medication significantly impacted their lives
and contributed to treatment decisions."
"This survey provides valuable insights into the complexities of
living with bipolar I disorder and the factors that people consider
when making treatment decisions together with their healthcare
providers," said Sarah Akerman,
M.D., Executive Director of Medical Affairs at Alkermes. "At
Alkermes, we are dedicated to raising awareness of the unmet needs
of people living with serious mental illness and advancing the
development of new treatment options that may help address those
needs."
*Survey participants living with BD-I have, on average, been
living with the condition for about 16 years, with 28 years old
being the average age of diagnosis.
**Unless otherwise noted, all "agreed" percentages represent a
net, or sum, of the proportion of respondents who selected
"somewhat agree" and those who selected "strongly agree" in
response to the question asked.
Survey Methodology
The Harris Poll conducted these
online surveys on behalf of Alkermes and in consultation with DBSA
among 305 people living with BD-I in the U.S. In order to qualify
for participation, subjects had to be aged 18-60, must have taken
BD-I medication at the time of the survey or in the year prior to
the survey, and could not have been managing/receiving treatment
for schizophrenia at the time of the survey. Data were collected
between August 3 and August 26, 2021,
and raw data were not weighted and are therefore only
representative of those who completed the survey. The results of
this survey do not necessarily represent the experiences of the
broader population of people living with BD-I.
For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables
and subgroup sample sizes, or for any additional questions
regarding the survey, please send requests to
mediainfo@alkermes.com.
About Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a brain
disorder that is marked by extreme changes in a person's mood,
energy and ability to function. Individuals with this brain
disorder may experience debilitating changes in mood from extreme
highs (mania) to extreme lows (depression). BD-I is characterized
by the occurrence of at least one manic episode, with or without
the occurrence of a major depressive episode, and affects
approximately one percent of the adult population in the U.S. in
any given year.1
About the Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is a global
consulting and market research firm established in 1963 to help
support decision making among leaders. The Harris Poll works with
clients in three primary areas: crafting brand strategy, building
corporate reputation, and earning organic media through public
relations research.
About the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
The
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is a not-for-profit,
501(c)(3) organization that provides hope, help, support and
education to serve the estimated 21 million people throughout the
U.S. who live with mood disorders. Programs and resources are
offered through our website, dbsalliance.org, and through our 500+
support groups and 150+ chapters across the country. DBSA
emphasizes the value of peer support as a crucial resource for
wellness. The term peer describes someone who lives with a mood
disorder. DBSA believes in the strength and resilience of each
person and supports the individual's right to create his/her/their
own path to wellness. DBSA also serves caregivers, families and
friends of people living with mood disorders because family and
social support are central to wellness.
About Alkermes plc
Alkermes plc is a
fully-integrated, global biopharmaceutical company developing
innovative medicines in the fields of neuroscience and oncology.
The company has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products
focused on addiction, schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, and a
pipeline of product candidates in development for neurodegenerative
disorders and cancer. Headquartered in Dublin,
Ireland, Alkermes plc has an R&D center
in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing
facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility
in Wilmington, Ohio. For more information, please visit
Alkermes' website at www.alkermes.com.
Alkermes Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including,
but not limited to, statements concerning the company's plans to
advance the development of new treatment options that may help
address the needs of people living with serious mental illness. The
company cautions that forward-looking statements are inherently
uncertain. Although the company believes that such statements are
based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge
of its business and operations, the forward-looking statements are
neither promises nor guarantees and they are necessarily subject to
a high degree of uncertainty and risk. Actual performance and
results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in
the forward-looking statements due to various risks and
uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:
whether the results of the survey conducted by the Harris Poll
represent the experiences of people living with BD-I; whether the
company can successfully advance the development and regulatory
approval of new treatment options that may help address the unmet
needs of people living with serious mental illness; and those risks
and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec.
31, 2020 and in subsequent filings made by the company with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which
are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company
disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising
any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
1 Merikangas et al. Lifetime and 12-Month
Prevalence of Bipolar Spectrum Disorder in the National Comorbidity
Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2007 May; 64(5): 543-552.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1931566/
Alkermes Contacts:
For Investors: Sandy Coombs +1 781
609 6377
For Media: Marisa Borgasano +1 781
609 6659
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