Mood stabilizing drugs and medication can be ineffective in up to 40% of classic bipolar patients. As a result, there has been an increase in interest in developing psychological and behavioral therapies for bipolar disorder (to be used in combination with medications).

One such treatment, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), is based on the idea that what we think about ourselves and the world around us affects how we feel and how we behave. By changing the way we think, we can change both our behaviour and emotional reactions.

Cognitive Therapy as a Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been receiving more attention as an en effective treatment for bipolar disorder (for specific studies of efficacy, see this article).

Cognitive therapy essentially teaches patients to manage their bipolar symptoms. Patients are taught self-monitoring and self-regulation techniques and learn skills for coping with depression and mania. These skills might include regular activity in the establishment of daily routines, methods of coping with stress, use of time management and social support, addressing of dysfunctional thoughts, and adherence to medication treatments.

How Long Does Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Last? How effective is it?

In one of the most successful and empirically supported applications of CBT, Scott, Garland, and Moorehead, (2001) used 25 sessions over six months. Relapse rates in the 18 months after beginning CBT showed a 60% reduction in comparison to the 18 monsths prior to commencing therapy. (see this article for more info on studies of the efficacy of cogniive therapy)

- data for this article extracted from "Treating Bipolar Disorder" - by Ellen Frank