Maintenance Therapies in Bipolar Disorders

The purpose of this study is to see if adding a regimen of individualized psychotherapy can help bipolar I patients who are on lithium. While having a manic or depressed episode patients will be assigned randomly (like tossing a coin) to receive appropriate medication either with or without additional individual psychotherapy. If a patient responds well, he/she will again be assigned randomly to receive further preventative treatment in which medication will be managed either with continued medication clinic visits alone or with additional individual psychotherapy (the patient may not receive the same additional treatment this time). Patient response to treatment will be evaluated throughout the study. If manic/depressive symptoms return at any point during the study, the patient will be treated with appropriate medication and will continue the study. An individual may be eligible for this study if he/she: Has Bipolar I disorder, is experiencing a manic or depressed episode at the time of study entry, and is at least 18 years old.