A study of individual cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder showed positive outcomes at 1 - year follow - up, but the benefits were reduced over time, suggesting the need for booster
sessions to sustain the gains.19 As with many forms of therapy, CBT has been found to be more successful
in reducing relapse
in the depressive pole compared with the manic pole.30 A large randomised trial of CBT showed no
difference between CBT and treatment as usual, when all participants were included
in the analyses.31 However, results of a post-hoc analysis suggested that CBT was effective for participants who reported
fewer than 12 prior episodes of illness and were not acutely unwell when therapy began; numbers of episodes of mania rather than depression seemed to predict treatment response.32 Such data can help guide the clinical application of CBT for bipolar patients.