Abstract
Background: The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is coordinating the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in psychiatry, funded under the National Mental Health Strategy (Australia) and the New Zealand Health Funding Authority
Method: For these guidelines, the CPG team reviewed the treatment outcome literature (including meta-analyses) and consulted with practitioners and consumers.
Treatment recommendations: This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the management of bipolar disorder by phase of illness, that is acute mania, mixed episodes and bipolar depression, and the prophylaxis of such episodes. It specifies the roles of various mood-stabilizing medications and of psychological treatments such as cognitive therapy and psycho-education.