Cited by 180Bipolar Disorder and TreatmentPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologySchizophrenia research and treatment

Psychosocial treatments for bipolar disorder: cost‐effectiveness, mediating mechanisms, and future directions

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Miklowitz, David J, Scott, Jan·2009·Bipolar Disorders

Abstract

Objectives: Randomized trials of adjunctive psychotherapy for bipolar disorder are reviewed, in tandem with discussion of cost‐effectiveness, mediating mechanisms, and moderators of effects. Methods: Systematic searches of the MEDLINE and PSYCHLIT databases yielded 19 randomized controlled trials of individual family and group therapies. Outcome variables included time to recovery, relapse or recurrence, symptom severity, medication adherence, and psychosocial functioning. Results: Meta‐analyses consistently show that disorder‐specific psychotherapies [cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal, family, and group] augment mood stabilizers in reducing rates of relapse (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.39–0.82) over 1–2 years. Specific mediating mechanisms include, but are not limited to, increasing medication adherence, teaching self‐monitoring and early intervention with emergent episodes, and enhancing interpersonal functioning and family communication. All therapies have strengths and weaknesses. One group psychoeducation trial, demonstrated effect sizes for recurrence that are at least equivalent to individual therapies, but findings await replication. Family interventions have been successfully administered in both single and multi‐family formats, but no studies report the comparative cost‐effectiveness of these formats. The best‐studied psychotherapy modality, CBT, can have beneficial effects on depression, but findings are inconsistent across studies and vary with sample characteristics and comparison treatments. Conclusions: Adjunctive psychotherapies can be cost‐effective when weighed against observed reductions in recurrence, hospitalization and functional impairments. Future trials need to (i) clarify which populations are most likely to benefit from which strategies; (ii) identify putative mechanisms of action; (iii) systematically evaluate costs, benefits, and generalizability; and (iv) record adverse effects. The application of psychosocial interventions to young‐onset populations deserves further study.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00715.x

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Authors
Miklowitz, D. J., & Scott, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
Corresponding author
Miklowitz, David J
Venue
Bipolar Disorders
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-06
Volume
11
Issue
s2
Pages
110-122
ISSN
  • 1398-5647 (ISSN-L)
  • 1399-5618
OpenAlex
W2066760211
Cited by
180
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 14
FWCI
2.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Bipolar Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH077856, R01MH073871, MH073871, R34MH077856)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
bipolar disorder, adjunctive psychotherapy, cost-effectiveness, relapse prevention, family therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, medication adherence, self-monitoring, mood stabilizers, psychosocial functioning, treatment moderators
MeSH terms
Bipolar Disorder, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Humans, Social Support, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Medication Adherence

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