The Bipolar Knowledge scale (BK) is a 16-item questionnaire
developed by our study group (Cronbach 0.72) to assess patient
and caregiver general knowledge of basic facts about bipolar illness.
Items include true-false questions such as “Bipolar disorder affects
the same number of men and women” and multiple-choice questions
such as “Which of the following are common side effects of
lithium?” Scores range from 0 to 43. (Questionnaire available upon
request).
The Poor Alliance scale (PA) is a 5-item questionnaire
developed by our study group (Cronbach 0.96) to assess the
extent of problems in doctor–patient communication. Patients rated
their relationship with doctors and health care providers over the
past 3 months. Items are rated on a 1 to 4 scale from “always” to
“never” with scores ranging from 5 to 20, a higher score reflecting
a worse relationship. All five items that make up this scale are
included in the Appendix. Caregiver relationship with the patient’s
providers was not assessed.