title: [S3 guidelines on diagnostics and therapy of bipolar disorders: development process and essential recommendations].
abstract: Bipolar disorders are severe psychiatric disorders with extensive individual and health economic consequences. Starting in 2007 the first German evidence and consensus based guideline for diagnostics and treatment of bipolar disorders was developed which holds the potential of increasing confidence of therapists, patients and relatives in the decision-making process and improving healthcare service experiences of patients and relatives. Apart from recommendations for diagnostics and treatment the guidelines provide those for trialogue action, knowledge transfer and self-help and for strategies for healthcare provision of this complex disorder. In the present article the methodology and essential recommendations are outlined and complemented in specific topics by corresponding articles in this special issue. Due to restrictions of the length of this presentation there is the need to refer to the comprehensive version of the guidelines at several points also regarding a detailed discussion of the limitations.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfennig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bschor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baghai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bräunig
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brieger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falkai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Giesler
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Möhrmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muche-Borowski
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Padberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scherk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strech
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*