Psychoeducation Manual for Bipolar Disorder By Francesc Colom & Eduard Vieta. Cambridge University Press. 2006. 236pp. £24.99 (pb). ISBN 0521683688

This is a clearly written and user-friendly psychological treatment manual for patients with bipolar disorder. Part one and two give a brief background about the disorder and introduce the concepts and methodology of psychoeducation. Part three gives details of the Barcelona Psychoeducation Program, which is one of the few evidence-based psychological treatment models for bipolar disorders.

This is mainly a ‘how to’ book giving clear, practical guidance about when to introduce psychodeucation. The Barcelona Program consists of 21 sessions each lasting one and a half hours. The sessions are clearly described with goals, procedures, useful tips and patient material. Francesc's personal commitment to the treatment of patients with bipolar illness also comes through. They are given explicit encouragement and permission to ring if they are worried about possible relapses and provided with information about how and when to contact him. Such patients are not easy to treat. Therapists need to be committed clinicians who are familiar with the disorder. It is made clear in the book that this is an intensive and complex psychoeducation programme. Furthermore, the authors advise that 8 patients will be the optimal number for the group, but that it is sensible to start with 12 to 14, allowing for drop-outs. Moreover, patients have to be stable for 6 months with a Young Mania Rating Scale score <6 (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score <8).

The authors are also appropriately realistic about the objectives of working with individuals with bipolar disorder. Some goals such as awareness of disorder, early detection of warning symptoms and adherence to treatment are aimed at every patient in the group. Others such as controlling stress, avoiding substance use and misuse, and achieving regularity in lifestyle are described as ‘desirable and not exclusively the responsibility of the psychoeducation program’ whereas improving social and interpersonal activity between episodes and confronting residual sub-syndromic symptoms and impairment are described as part of an ‘excellent scenario’ of treatment outcome.

To sum up, the authors have done a brilliant job in developing such a thorough psychoeducation programme. I would recommend anyone interested in working with patients with bipolar illness to buy this book.