The forgotten treatment modality in bipolar illness: psychotherapy.

The author presents 31 bipolar patients treated with combined lithium prophylaxis and psychotherapy for up to 41 months. The grave prognosis of untreated bipolar illness is reviewed. The improved prognosis with lithium prophylaxis alone is reviewed. The author demonstrates an improved prognosis when lithium prophylaxis is combined with psychotherapy and discusses his findings as to why lithium prophylaxis alone still predicts a grave outcome.