title: Psychotherapy for bipolar disorder:  a review of the most recent studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to give an update on recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating psychotherapy for bipolar disorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methodological issues like the inclusion of differing patient populations, differences in who (patients, family members, caregivers) received psychotherapy, and varying follow-up periods make it difficult to compare RCTs. Despite heterogeneous results, the majority of the studies showed relevant positive results in terms of reduced relapse rates, increased quality of life, better functioning or more favorable symptomatic outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent RCTs evaluating psychosocial interventions for bipolar disorder have added to the evidence, thereby broadening existing therapeutic options. These promising results should encourage future studies leading to a better understanding of what kind of patient or caregiver will benefit from what kind of therapy, and how efficient psychosocial interventions can be under routine conditions.
authors.affiliation: Psychosis Early Detection and Intervention Centre, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. d.schoettle@uke.de
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schöttle
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence