Psychosocial interventions in bipolar disorders: A guidelines’ review

Introduction: Psychosocial interventions are essential in the treatment of severe mental disorders, including Bipolar Disorder. These interventions aim to enhance patients’ psychopathology, alongside pharmacological treatments, while also improving personal functioning and quality of life. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of available international guidelines concerning the treatment of Bipolar Disorder, specifically examining their recommendations on the efficacy and implementation of psychosocial interventions across different phases of the illness. The guidelines included in our review were from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT), the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP), Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP 2022), and the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP). Results: The international guidelines endorse psychosocial interventions as supportive treatments in conjunction with pharmaceutical or psychotherapeutic approaches for Bipolar Disorder. Conclusions: Further research is needed to validate the suggested effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on the long-term outcomes of Bipolar Disorder.