Practical Psychosocial Management for Patients With Bipolar Disorder

The broad acceptance of evidence-based psychosocial interventions as adjuncts to pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder has been inhibited by the extensive training, supervision, and fidelity requirements of these approaches. Interventions that emphasize evidence-based strategies drawn from these modalities—rather than the full manualized protocols—may broaden the availability of psychotherapy for patients with bipolar disorder. In this article, psychosocial risk factors relevant to the course of bipolar disorder (stressful life events that disrupt social rhythms, lack of social support, family criticism and conflict, and lack of illness awareness or literacy) are reviewed, along with evidence-based psychosocial interventions (e.g., interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, and group psychoeducation) to address these risk factors. The results of a component network meta-analysis of randomized psychotherapy trials in bipolar disorder are discussed. Manualized psychoeducation protocols—especially those that encourage active skill practice and mood monitoring in a family or group format—were found to be more effective, compared with individual psychoeducation or routine care, in reducing 1-year recurrence rates. Cognitive restructuring, regulation of daily and nightly routines, and communication skills training were core components associated with stabilization of depressive symptoms. The authors describe a novel psychoeducational approach—practical psychosocial management (PPM)—that integrates these core strategies into the personalized care of patients with bipolar disorder to reduce recurrences and enhance mood stability. PPM is designed to be implemented, without time-intensive training and oversight, by physician or nonphysician clinicians. Evaluating the efficacy and coverage of PPM will require implementation trials in community settings.