Use of criteria and clinical guidelines in the creation of a mood disorders unit

Affective disorders (uni– or bipolar) represent a significant public health issue, due both to its high prevalence as well as the high index of disability that they generate. This article addresses the problem of treatment resistance, as well the use of clinical guidelines and strategies for the treatment of more complex cases. We analyze the contributions of pharmacological treatments, psychotherapy and non-pharmacological somatic therapies, from an integrative point of view. The multidisciplinary team of Mood Disorders Unit at Clínica Las Condes Psychiatry Department seeks to apply a broad-view integrative model with the aim of finding the better management strategy for each patient. Our objectives are both symptomatic remission and functional recovery (autonomy, quality of affective bonds, etc.), in order to make a difference on the patients’ overall quality of life.