Bipolar Patients Need More Talk Therapy

Psychological therapy can greatly boost the effectiveness of drugs in treating bipolar disorder, but these specialized talk therapies aren't as widely available as they should be, experts say.

"There are probably several dozen places in the country where you can get these treatments," said Dr. Holly Swartz, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. "It's not available in the majority of the country."

Much of the problem is lack of training in the specialized techniques for psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers, said David Miklowitz, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The techniques should become part of the regular curriculum for them, he said.

And just as drug companies trumpet the effectiveness of their drugs, advocates for talk therapy have to advertise the impact of their techniques, Miklowitz said.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done to get these treatments into day-to-day use in community practice," he said.

Basically, the talk therapies work by helping patients deal with stress, function socially and stick with their medications, he said.

They come in three styles: