Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by recurrent hypomanic/manic and/or depressive mood episodes. Although mood-stabilizing medication is the first line of treatment for bipolar disorder, the beneficial effects of psychosocial treatments, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy, have been recognized. In this chapter we review the clinical presentation and diagnosis of bipolar disorder, as well as its assessment. We describe cognitive behavioral strategies, how their combination can be used to treat the different phases of the illness and review the empirical support for cognitive behavioral therapy for bipolar disorder.