Managing Bipolar Disorder: Therapist Guide
Managing Bipolar Disorder comes in two volumes. This page is for the Therapist Guide. Click here to access the Client Workbook.
Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition affecting up to 5% of the population, characterized by recurring depressive and (hypo)manic episodes that often leave residual symptoms and impair daily functioning. Comorbid conditions such as anxiety and substance use disorders, along with elevated suicide risk, further complicate its course, making effective management essential. Managing Bipolar Disorder provides a structured yet flexible cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program tailored to address the unique challenges of bipolar disorder. Drawing on extensive clinical research, the program integrates psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and relapse-prevention strategies. It promotes early detection of mood changes, lifestyle regulation, stress management, and skill-building to enhance coping and prevent relapse. Designed to complement pharmacotherapy—which remains central to treatment—this program supports the use of mood stabilizers like lithium and newer atypical antipsychotics. Research, including findings from large-scale studies like STEP-BD, demonstrates that psychosocial treatments such as CBT significantly reduce relapse rates, improve functioning, and provide benefits where medications alone may fall short. This manual equips therapists with evidence-based strategies to deliver effective care, empowering patients to achieve greater stability and improved quality of life. By combining targeted interventions with ongoing medication, it offers a comprehensive approach to managing this challenging condition.
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Chapter 1 – Introductory Information for Therapists
Chapter 2 – Overview of Treatment Structure and Strategies
Chapter 3 – Session 1: Introduction
Chapter 4 – Session 2: Mood Charting and Activity Scheduling
Chapter 5 – Session 3: Cognitive Restructuring—Part I
Chapter 6 – Session 4: Cognitive Restructuring—Part II
Chapter 7 – Session 5: Cognitive Restructuring—Part III
Chapter 8 – Session 6: Cognitive Restructuring—Part IV
Chapter 9 – Session 7: Core Beliefs
Chapter 10 – Session 8: Challenging Core Beliefs
Chapter 11 – Session 9: More Work With Core Beliefs
Chapter 12 – Session 10: Drafting a Treatment Contract
Chapter 13 – Session 11: Drafting a Treatment Contract
Chapter 14 – Session 12: Drafting a Treatment Contract
Chapter 15 – Session 13: Hypomanic Cognitive Errors
Chapter 16 – Introduction to the Problem-List Phase
Chapter 17 – Problem-Solving Module
Chapter 18 – Social Skills Training Module
Chapter 19 – Management of Comorbid Anxiety Disorders Module
Chapter 20 – Breathing and Relaxation Strategies Module
Chapter 21 – Anger Management Module
Chapter 22 – Managing Extreme Emotions Module
Chapter 23 – Well-Being Therapy and Relapse Prevention
Appendix
References
Front Matter
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
Bipolar disorder is a complex and chronic mental health condition affecting 1% to 5% of the population, with an estimated 10 million individuals in the United States alone (Akiskal, 2007; Kessler et al., 1994). Typically emerging in the mid-teens, it is characterized by recurring mood episodes that include depressive and (hypo)manic phases. These episodes often leave residual symptoms and impair role functioning, even during periods of relative stability (Keck et al., 1998). Comorbid conditions, such as anxiety and substance use disorders, further complicate the course of the illness, leading to poorer outcomes, decreased treatment adherence, and higher hospitalization rates (Goldberg et al., 1999; Otto et al., 2006). Additionally, individuals with bipolar disorder face an elevated risk of suicide, with studies showing a nearly fourfold increase compared to other psychiatric populations (Brown et al., 2000).
This treatment manual, offers a structured yet flexible cognitive-behavioral approach designed to address these challenges. Drawing
Therapist Guidance
Each Treatments That Work® title is published as part of a pair:
- Clients use the Workbooks, which contain elements of psychoeducation, skills development, self-assessment quizzes, homework exercises, and record forms.
- Therapists use the Therapist Guides, which contain step-by-step instructions for teaching clients skills and overcoming common difficulties.
Although written for the client, the exercises in the workbook are intended to be carried out under the supervision of a mental health professional. The authors suggest that the most effective implementation of these exercises requires an understanding of the principles underlying the different procedures, and that mental health professionals should be familiar with both Managing Bipolar Disorder: Workbook and this Therapist Guide.
Therapists with an active subscription to a Psychology Tools ‘Complete’ plan are licensed to use Treatments That Work® titles, and to download and share chapters with their clients.
References And Further Reading
- Akiskal, H. S. (2007). The emergence of the bipolar spectrum: Validation along clinical-epidemiologic and familial-genetic lines. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 40, 99–115.
- Brown, G. K., Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Grisham, J. R. (2000). Risk factors for suicide in psychiatric outpatients: A 20-year prospective study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 371–377.
- Cochran, S. D. (1984). Preventing medical noncompliance in the outpatient treatment of bipolar affective disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 873–878.
- Goldberg, J., Garno, J., Leon, A., Kocsis, J., & Portera, L. (1999). A history of substance abuse complicates remission from acute mania in bipolar disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 60, 733–740.
- Keck, P. E. Jr., McElroy, S. L., Strakowski, S. M., West, S. A., Sax, K. W., Hawkins, J. M., et al. (1998). Twelve-month outcome of patients with bipolar disorder following hospitalization for a manic or mixed episode. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155,