Achieving remission and recovery in bipolar disorder.

Pharmacotherapy is the primary treatment for bipolar disorder, and several medications have proven efficacy for treating patients with the disorder. However, an efficacy/effectiveness gap exists in preventing recurrence of mood episodes and in returning patients to full functional recovery. A lack of treatment adherence is a major factor in treatment refractoriness in patients with bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests that psychoeducation can be a helpful tool in improving treatment adherence and in addressing other factors that complicate the treatment of bipolar disorder, such as comorbidity, substance use, and cognitive impairment.