ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the research and clinical background for a new psychosocial treatment for bipolar affective (manic-depressive) illness: integrated family and individual therapy (IFIT). IFIT is a 1-year outpatient treatment delivered in conjunction with mood-regulating medications. We describe the syndrome of bipolar disorder, the manner in which it is affected by psychosocial stress, and the role of psychotherapy in its treatment. The bulk of the chapter is devoted to describing the IFIT treatment method. It is our hope that the reader will gain an appreciation for the difficult life course of bipolar disorder, the ways in which it affects and is affected by families, and the importance of psychosocial treatments-both individual and family-based-as adjuncts to medication for the outpatient maintenance of the disorder.
