Management of inter-episodic periods in patients with bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT

The management of inter-episodic periods of bipolar disorder (BD) appears complex as it combines several therapeutic approaches and takes into account individual characteristics of BD patients. Over recent decades, new evidence has been provided about pharmacological treatments, psychosocial interventions or models of care for the long-term management of BD patients. Considering this, guidelines for the maintenance treatment of BD should be regarded as an evidence-based ground for everyday clinical practice in real-life setting. This article critically reviews recently published clinical guidelines on the management of BD patients during the inter-episodic phases of illness, in order to highlight the consensual or controversial recommendations.

KEYWORDS:

• Bipolar disorder
• long-term treatment
• maintenance treatment
• pharmacological treatment
• psychological treatment
• guidelines
• clinical staging
• inter-episodic phase

Financial & competing interests disclosure

L Samalin has received grants, honoraria, or consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda. A Murru has received grants, honoraria, or consulting fees from Adamed, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, and Takeda. E Vieta has received grants and served as consultant, advisor or CME speaker for the following entities: AB-Biotics, Allergen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ferrer, Forest Research Institute, Gedeon Richter, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Shire, Sunovion, Takeda, Telefonica, the Brain and Behaviour Foundation, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CIBERSAM), the Seventh European Framework Programme (ENBREC) and the Stanley Medical Research Institute. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.