Adjunctive psychotherapy for bipolar disorder: Effects of changing treatment modality.

Dec 28, 1999Journal of abnormal psychology

How adding psychotherapy and changing its type affect bipolar disorder treatment

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Abstract

Participants remaining in the same treatment had lower rates of recurrence of bipolar disorder, with less than 20% compared to over 40% for those reassigned.

In a trial involving 82 participants, those who maintained their treatment assignment experienced fewer recurrences over 52 weeks.
Individuals assigned to the same treatment during both acute and preventative phases reported lower levels of symptoms.
Altering treatment assignments may increase the risk of recurrence in bipolar disorder.
Findings support the idea that stability in treatment routines is beneficial for bipolar patients.

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In a randomized, controlled trial, the authors studied an adjunctive, individual psychotherapy, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) for bipolar disorder. After stabilizing participants with episode appropriate pharmacotherapy and either IPSRT or intensive clinical management (CM), participants were reassigned to IPSRT or CM in conjunction with pharmacotherapy for 2 years of preventative treatment. Early results (n = 82) suggest that altering participants' treatment assignment at entry to the preventative phase is related to risk of recurrence. Participants remaining in the same treatment for both acute and preventative phases had lower rates of recurrence (< 20% vs. > 40%) and levels of symptomatology over the subsequent 52 weeks than those reassigned to the alternate modality. This finding, consistent with the authors' philosophy that bipolar patients benefit from stable routines, suggests that disruptions in the psychosocial treatment plan contribute to worse outcomes.

Adjunctive psychotherapy for bipolar disorder: Effects of changing treatment modality.

Abstract

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