Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Treating patients with bipolar disorder and substance dependence: lessons learned.

Weiss RD

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. rweiss@mclean.harvard.edu

Although bipolar disorder is the Axis I psychiatric disorder associated with the highest rate of co-occurring substance use disorders, little research has focused on treatments specifically designed for these patients. The author and his colleagues have developed and studied Integrated Group Therapy (IGT) for this population. This paper describes common themes that have emerged in carrying out IGT for patients with bipolar disorder and substance dependence. These include the strong emphasis on depression, as opposed to mania; the predominance of hopelessness; specific patterns of medication noncompliance; and the implications of patients' labeling their substance use as self-medication. Therapeutic aspects involved in addressing these themes are discussed.

Published 21 December 2004 in J Subst Abuse Treat, 27(4): 307-12.
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