Evidence-Based Treatment Planning for Bipolar Disorder

Beginning with an overview of Bipolar Disorder and its DSM features, Bruce and Jongsma include comprehensive descriptions of the major depressive, manic, hypomanic, and mixed episodes related to this diagnosis. Noting that treatment plans aren’t created in a vacuum, but rather tailored to each client within the context of an authentic, empathic relationship, the two clinicians anchor their six-step treatment plan in empirically supported treatments (ESTs). A brief history of the EST movement provides further context.

Bruce and Jongsma highlight sample treatment plans here, and provide useful commentary on a series of case vignettes featuring both individual and group clients. You’ll watch therapists incorporate skillful interventions (including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, family involvement, self-monitoring, and activity regulation) based on the approaches of Family-Focused Therapy, Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Behavioral definitions, short-term objectives, and long-term goals are covered too, making for a well-rounded set of tools you can start using immediately to support clients while meeting increasingly stringent professional standards.

If you’ve been searching for instructional resources on Bipolar Disorder or want to learn how to build strong, evidence-based treatment plans aligned with the latest empirically supported methods, be sure to add this video to your library.