ABSTRACT
The aims of therapy for bipolar disorder (BD) are to alleviate acute symptoms, restore psycho-social functioning, and prevent relapse and recurrence. The benefits of pharmacotherapy have dominated the literature on treatment. The aim of Cochran's study was to apply cognitive therapy to enhance lithium adherence. It compared 28 patients randomly assigned to either six sessions of group cognitive therapy (CT) or standard clinic care. The model of CT for clients with BD may have similarities to the approach used with other severe disorders such as schizophrenia or in-patient depression. Miklowitz and Goldstein observed that clients with BD may interact in a more fast-paced, affective, and spontaneous manner than those with other severe mental health problems. Selfregulation does appear to increase stability in an individual's mental state and enhances their sense of self-efficacy. Many clients benefit from using affect regulation techniques as used more frequently for clients with personality dysfunction.
