title: Psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder.
abstract: Patients with bipolar disorder are prone to recurrences even when they are maintained on lithium or anticonvulsant regimens. The authors argue that the outpatient treatment of bipolar disorder should involve both somatic and psychosocial components. Psychosocial interventions can enhance patients' adherence to medications, ability to cope with environmental stress triggers, and social-occupational functioning. Family and marital psychoeducational interventions and individual interpersonal and social rhythm therapy have received the most empirical support in experimental trials. These interventions, when combined with medications, appear effective in improving symptomatic functioning during maintenance treatment. A beginning literature also supports the utility of individual cognitive-behavioral and psychoeducational approaches, particularly in enhancing medication adherence. Identifying the optimal format for psychosocial treatments and elucidating their mechanisms of action are topics for further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0345, USA. ecraighead@psych.colorado.edu
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Craighead
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Miklowitz
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium