Bipolar Disorder. An Evidence-Based Clinical Guide

Bipolar disorder is a complex disease and requires specialized care for its assessment and effective treatment. It has a worldwide prevalence of about 2% and is among the top 10 leading causes of disability adjusted life years in young adults. Additionally, people with bipolar disorder die around 10 years earlier, and the lifetime risk of suicide is estimated to be at least 20 times that of the general population. Although these findings illustrate the severity and complexity of this illness, we are living exciting times in the field of bipolar disorder for several reasons.

Over the last 20 years, novel and evidence based pharmacological and psychosocial strategies have been added to the treatment of bipolar disorder. Several studies addressed the natural history of the disease and showed that the course of bipolar disorder is heterogeneous but, on average, the risk of recurrence increases with the number of previous episodes. Neuroscience has shed light on the molecular underpinnings of the potential decline in cognition and physical health that takes place in some people with bipolar disorder. Some studies added weight to the theory that immune activation is a key component in driving the changes that take place in the brain and its periphery. Lastly, new technologies and lifestyle approaches are gaining tracking in the field of bipolar disorder. Smartphone apps and sensors have promise to provide the means to digital interventions. Moreover, machine learning algorithms and big data have the potential to pave the way to predictive psychiatry, an exciting new field, where the use of large data sets may allow us to predict responses and clinical outcomes, such as suicide attempts.

The book is intended for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals. Written by experts, the 41 chapters are divided in six sections to discuss: The natural history of bipolar disorder; Biological underpinnings; Pharmacological treatment; Psychosocial interventions; Special populations; and New approaches to diagnosis and intervention. It will also discuss the use of antipsychotics and lithium as disease modifying agents, and clinical progression and neuroprogression concepts.

Bipolar Disorder – An Evidence-Based Clinical Guide will arm clinicians and researchers with the latest findings, as well as refine the necessary skills to provide the best clinical care.