Psychosocial factors in the course and treatment of bipolar disorder: Introduction to the special section

Bipolar disorder is associated with high rates of relapse and high social a nd economic costs, even when patients are maintained on proper pharmacother apy. The background and rationale are offered here for a series of articles that address the role of psychosocial agents in the course of bipolar diso rder and psychosocial treatments as adjuncts to pharmacotherapy in the diso rder's outpatient maintenance. it is argued that stressful life events and disturbances in social-familial support systems affect the cycling of the d isorder against the backdrop of genetic, biological and cognitive vulnerabi lities. Current models of psychosocial treatment focus on modifying the eff ects of social or familial risk factors as an avenue for improving the cour se of the disorder.