Bipolar Disorder

The past 10 years have seen a dramatic increase of interest in psychosocial treatments of bipolar disorder. There is now substantial empirical evidence suggesting the effectiveness of such treatments. However, this accumulated information has not yet been transferred into clinical practice in many settings. Help is now at hand.

This compact volume brings to the practitioner a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to the treatment of bipolar disorder that is practical, easily accessible, and can be readily applied in clinical practice. This practitioner's guide begins by describing the main features of bipolar disorder and considerations for differential diagnosis based on DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. Following this, current theories and models are described, along with decision trees for evaluating the best treatment options.

The volume then guides the reader through a systematic, integrated approach to treatment, based on the best of recent research. The authors describe a structured directive therapy that is also collaborative and client centered. Special considerations, including managing suicide risk, substance misuse, and medication non adherence, are addressed. The volume is rounded off by the inclusion of clinically oriented tools and sample forms.

The Authors

Robert Reiser, PhD, is a Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and Director of the Gronowski Psychology Clinic at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in Palo Alto, CA, where he supervises graduate psychologists in training, teaches classes in cognitive behavioral therapy, and provides workshops, consultation, and technical assistance related to improvements in the treatment of bipolar disorder in community mental health settings. Dr. Reiser’s primary clinical and research interests involve developing and implementing evidence-based treatments in a range of community and clinic settings.

Larry W. Thompson, PhD, received his doctorate from Florida State University in 1951. Since then he has held the rank of Professor at three universities, Duke University, University of Southern California, and Stanford University. Dr. Thompson’s recent interests have focused on the problems and issues involved in transporting evidenced-based psychotherapeutic interventions from the research laboratory into community settings.