Abstract
This is a timely publication addressing a major area of clinical practice in psychiatry where rapid treatment advances are occurring. Bipolar spectrum disorder is under-recognised and under-treated with a significant adverse impact on the course of the illness and psychosocial outcome. As the author states ‘according to the global burden of disease, bipolar affective disorder is one of the leading causes of chronic disability worldwide with a significant economic impact’. While effective pharmacological treatments such as lithium have been available for nearly three decades, recent research has highlighted a significant gap between outcome in ordinary clinical practice and the results of controlled, clinical trials. The editors have taken these findings as their starting point and subsequent contributors have addressed the major issues bearing on course and outcome, such as diagnostic subtypes of bipolar disorder, comorbidity, pharmacological treatment and the role of psychotherapies. The latter are assuming major importance in achieving improved psychosocial outcome and compliance with medication.
The book is intended for a broad audience and would be of equal value to researchers, clinicians and trainees. It is well referenced and each chapter has a useful summary. In addition, the editors have summarised the findings in a final chapter. The only criticism is that the contributions are based on a symposium at the 1995 American Psychiatric Association Meeting, although most the chapters had been updated prior to publication.