Cognitive-behavioral therapy for bipolar disorder

Abstract

Introduction

Bipolar disorder is a chronic disease with a major impact on patient's functioning and quality of life, not only during episodes of mania/hypomania or depression, but also during euthymic periods. In recent years, it has been noticed that pharmacotherapy, albeit its great value, is not enough to prevent recurrences of the disease. Therefore, it has been a greater investment in psychosocial interventions as adjuvant treatment. The utmost studied of these interventions is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Objectives and aims

Gather information about the efficacy of CBT in bipolar disorder.

Methods

Literature review.

Results

Several studies have compared groups of bipolar patients submitted to CBT to controls submitted to treatment as usual. The methods and size of samples differ, but the results are in general concordant. Individual or group CBT has had positive results in reducing symptoms, increasing the euthymic periods, decreasing duration of episodes and improving global functioning and quality of life.

Conclusions

There are limitations on the application of CBT in bipolar patients, mainly the decrease of its effects over time; less efficiency in patients with more severe disease; major impact on depressive symptoms than manic; and lack of human resources trained to apply these techniques. Notwithstanding these limitations, the demonstrated gain in the use of CBT on bipolar disorder is evident; hence, investment in this area is undoubtedly important.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.