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“There are, of course, a plethora of good books on this subject….What sets this work of Miklowitz and Gitlin apart is an emphasis on integrating psychopharmacology and psychotherapy as coequals and essential for maximizing treatment effectiveness and functional outcome. The authors are renowned researchers and clinicians who have collaborated for decades utilizing the knowledge and techniques they so cogently describe….Throughout the text are clinical vignettes that help illustrate how the authors have applied these concepts and recommendations that enliven the book and will resonate with any clinician who has worked with people who have bipolar disorder….This is as comprehensive a primer on bipolar disorder as one can find. It is well written by just two authors, leading to a uniformity of tone and lack of redundancy. It uniquely addresses blended treatment from the perspective of both a psychotherapist and a psychopharmacologist. If a clinician-in-training were to read only one book about this topic, they couldn’t do better than this one, and even seasoned clinicians would learn much from it, as did I.”

—Journal of Clinical Psychiatry


“It will be extremely valuable for trainees and clinicians who are learning or struggling with the nuances of diagnosing and treating this complicated illness.”

—Doody's Review Service


“An excellent guide to the treatment of a complicated, common, and potentially lethal illness. The authors' deep understanding of depression and mania is obvious on every page and their clinical recommendations are sophisticated and practical.”

—Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, The Dalio Family Professor in Mood Disorders and Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine


“Books about bipolar disorder abound, but what makes this one unique is that it clearly conveys that pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy must function as an integral whole. The authors' scholarly track records qualify them as experts, but beyond that, their real qualification is their decades of clinical experience. Two of the main emphases are especially gratifying to me: first, that treatment is a collaboration between doctor and patient, a truism often cited but rarely practiced; and second, that family members are integral to the treatment team. The extensive, well-chosen case examples bring the book alive and will help readers remember the many important clinical points.”

—Frederick K. Goodwin, MD, Director, Center on Neuroscience, Medical Progress, and Society, George Washington University Medical Center


“This is a marvelously written and practical book on treatment of the individual patient with bipolar disorder. It has many case examples of difficult problems that are commonly encountered, and multiple precise ways to deal with them. A major focus is integrating pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and family involvement in the therapeutic process. If patients are treated according to the principles enumerated in this book, it is clear that they will do very well.”

—Robert M. Post, MD, Bipolar Collaborative Network, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Psychiatry, George Washington University


“Miklowitz and Gitlin have teamed up to produce an invaluable volume. This unique book covers essentially everything the clinician needs to know to effectively diagnose and treat bipolar disorder in an integrated and personalized way. The chapters on treatment are particularly notable for distilling the wisdom of these two highly skilled experts into usable strategies and tactics that don't necessarily follow any single model of treatment, but integrate the most effective parts of several models. This is 'must' reading for clinicians who are embarking on the treatment of these challenging patients or who want to update their skills.”

—Ellen Frank, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine


“Miklowitz and Gitlin share a wealth of clinical pearls, providing clinicians with a road map for how to best diagnose bipolar disorder and promote mood stabilization and recovery. A great resource for clinicians, students, and the field.”

—Mark A. Frye, MD, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

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Table of Contents

1. An Integrated Approach to Bipolar Disorder

2. Bipolar Disorder: The Basics

3. The Intake Evaluation

4. Treatment of Acute Mania and Hypomania

5. Pharmacological Treatment of Bipolar Depression

6. Pharmacological Maintenance Treatment

7. Psychosocial Treatment for Recovery and Maintenance

8. Dealing with Medication Nonadherence

9. Bipolar Disorder, Pregnancy, and the Postpartum Period

10. Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

11. Strategic Interventions in Challenging Situations: Comorbidity and the Use of Split Treatment

Appendix A. Resources for Clinicians and Patients

Appendix B. Medication Names and Classes

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About the Authors

David J. Miklowitz, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, and Visiting Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He is author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide and Living Well with Bipolar Disorder, for general readers, and of award-winning books for professionals, as well as over 300 scientific articles and 70 book chapters. Dr. Miklowitz has won Distinguished Investigator awards from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. He is one of the few psychologists to have received the Award for Research in Mood Disorders from the American College of Psychiatrists.

• All titles by David J. Miklowitz

Michael J. Gitlin, MD, is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he is Director of the Adult Division in the Department of Psychiatry. He is also Director of the Mood Disorders Clinic at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital. Dr. Gitlin is the author of many scientific articles and book chapters as well as two editions of The Psychotherapist's Guide to Psychopharmacology. His awards include the Distinguished Educator Award from the UCLA Department of Psychiatry, the Teacher of the Year Award from Psychiatric Times, the Dadone Clinical Teaching Award from the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

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Audience

Mental health clinicians (both prescribers and nonprescribers), including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses.

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Course Use

May serve as a supplemental text in graduate-level courses.