Cognitive behavioral therapy for rapid-cycling bipolar disorder: a pilot study.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by depressive and/or manic episodes that interfere with daily functioning. Between 10%-24% of bipolar patients experience a rapid-cycling course, with 4 or more mood episodes occurring per year. Characterized by nonresponse to standard mood stabilizing medications, patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder are particularly in need of effective, adjunctive treatments. Adjunctive cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to improve adherence to medication and reduce relapse rates in patients with bipolar disorder. However, no published trials to date have examined the application of CBT to the treatment of patients with a rapid-cycling course of illness, with only a single case study published in the literature. We recently developed a CBT protocol that addresses the specific needs of bipolar patients with rapid cycling. The present study was designed to investigate outcomes with this CBT protocol. Study participants were 10 patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, 6 of whom completed the study. Completers showed significant decreases in depressive mood, and improvements remained stable during the 2-month follow-up. This suggests that CBT for rapid cycling may have beneficial effects.
Reilly-Harrington
Noreen A
NA
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. nhreilly@partners.org
Deckersbach
Thilo
T
Knauz
Robert
R
Wu
Yelena
Y
Tran
Tanya
T
Eidelman
Polina
P
Lund
Hannah G
HG
Sachs
Gary
G
Nierenberg
Andrew A
AA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds