A CLOSER LOOK: THE BENEFITS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ON A FEMALE-SPECIFIC UNIT FOR TREATMENT OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

Abstract

This case study examines the benefits and effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and a female-specific unit for a woman with Bipolar Disorder. For this case study, the patient, Sonia, is a pseudonym for reasons of confidentiality. Sonia has been persistently non-compliant with her psychotropic medications since being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Throughout her life, she has maintained the distortion that she does not need her prescribed psychotropic medications. This thinking has served as a catalyst for Sonia to stop taking her prescribed psychotropic medications and ultimately relapse, which has resulted in approximately 20 psychiatric hospitalizations. Another intervention, in addition to psychotropic medications, was desperately needed to stop this vicious cycle, in order to address her negative conceptualization of her illness. During her last hospitalization on a specialized psychiatric inpatient program for women, Sonia received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from a therapist in training at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy. The combination of CBT, re-stabilization on psychotropic medications, and a female-specific unit led to an excellent outcome for Sonia.