Non-pharmacological treatments in the management of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
Rapid cycling (RC) bipolar disorder is often treatment-resistant to pharmacotherapy. Non-pharmacological methods, however, are reasonable considerations in treatment refractory cases of bipolar patients. Thus, such methods may be useful in the management of RC, especially when drugs are not shown to be effective.


METHODS
This review is based on studies of all major non-pharmacological methods which are used in the management of bipolar disorder, by focusing on data regarding patients with a RC pattern of the illness.


RESULTS
Regarding biological treatments, for electroconvulsive therapy and sleep deprivation, there exists some evidence that they might be efficacious in RC patients for acute treatment as well as for prophylaxis from recurrences. Light therapy has not been shown to be efficacious in RC, while no published data exist for transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation. The non-biological treatments include psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions; these have not been tried particularly on RC patients, but their use should be expected to contribute to the overall management of the RC pattern as it does to that of mood disorder in general.


CONCLUSIONS
Many data on which this review is based are drawn from case reports or non-randomised trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-pharmacological methods, either biological or non-biological (psychotherapies and psychoeducation), may be applied in the management of RC patients. These methods might be used in combination with the administration of drug treatment, based on the clinical experience of the physician and the individual characteristics of the patient.
Papadimitriou
George N
GN
Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Vas. Sofias 74, 11528 Athens, Greece. gnpapad@med.uoa.gr
Dikeos
Dimitris G
DG
Soldatos
Constantin R
CR
Calabrese
Joseph R
JR
D000204:Activity Cycles; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010507:Periodicity; D010789:Phototherapy; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012892:Sleep Deprivation; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors