OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the compliance and treatment satisfaction with risperidone in a U.S. sample of patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: In June 2001, 573 persons reported being diagnosed with bipolar disorder on a self-administered questionnaire. Patients receiving risperidone were identified and information on compliance and treatment satisfaction was extracted. Satisfaction and compliance with treatment were measured using the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) and a 5-point Likert scale. The satisfaction scale ranges from not at all (1) to extremely satisfied (5), while the DAI classifies the patients in 3 groups, noncompliant (-10 to 0), somewhat compliant (1 to 5), and very compliant (6 to 10) with treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-one (5.4%) of 573 patients with bipolar disorder were receiving risperidone. The average length of treatment was 33.1 (SD=23.5) months. Twenty-three (73%) of 31 patients reported being very or extremely (4 or 5) satisfied with the medication, while only 4 patients (12%) reported no or little satisfaction with treatment. The majority of patients, 22 (68%), reported being very compliant with their treatment. CONCLUSION: In this population of patients with bipolar disorder, patients receiving risperidone appear to have a high satisfaction with treatment and a high compliance rate.