Self-management in chronic psychiatric and medical conditions and co-morbidities: what are the barriers?

Abstract

Supporting self-management is now a vital element of care in chronic psychiatric and medical conditions. The Flinders Program of Chronic Condition Management, developed in the Department of Psychiatry at Flinders University, is now being used in Asian and western countries and has shown effectiveness in increasing self-management in chronic conditions and co-morbidities, including mental health conditions and medical illnesses. However, even proven self-management interventions are ineffective if barriers, either in the patient’s own circumstances or in the health service, prevent self-management.