Bipolar Disorder is a mental disorder characterized by relapsing episodes of mania/hypomania and depression which often develop eventually into chronic bipolar depression.

Typically the onset is during young adulthood, and many patients spend prolonged periods of time diagnosed as suffering from unipolar depression before eventually the first manic episode appears. Psychotic symptoms are not uncommon as well as cognitive impairment and significant disability. A significant proportion of patients will never recover completely and rebeated hospitalizations or life-long protective living might be necessary for some.

Social problems such as long-term unemployment, poverty, homelessness, exploitation, and victimization as well as problems with the law are commonly correlated with bipolar disorder, and especially with its non-classic forms.  The treatment is maybe the most complex and demanding among mental disorders and it includes medication, along with psychotherapy, counselling and social rehabilitation.

The WPA webinars on Bipolar Disorder clinical management will be addressed mainly to the clinical doctors, who would like to enrich their practical experience in the treatment of Bipolar Disorders in order to bring patients back to their families and even to their job.

Part of the World Psychiatric Association Webinar Series, the ‘Recent Advances in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder’ webinar took place on Monday 28th March 2022, 5pm GMT. This webinar was organised by Prof Afzal Javed (President – World Psychiatric Association), Prof Peter Morozov (Secretary General – World Psychiatric Association) and moderated by Prof Konstantinos Fountoulakis, MD, PhD