Restoring Functioning in Bipolar Disorder: Functional Remediation

Learning Objectives After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to: 1. Assess the importance of remediation programs as adjunctive interventions for patients with bipolar disorder. 2. Evaluate a remediation program to improve functional outcome in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Abstract Over the past several years, many evidence-based interventions have proven to be effective as adjunctive therapies in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Only a few, however, have addressed the issue of functional recovery in bipolar euthymic patients, which is difficult to achieve after an affective episode. The functional remediation program has been designed at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona with the main aim of treating functional impairment in bipolar disorder. The program consists of 21 weekly group sessions and is based on a neuro-cognitive-behavioral approach. Throughout the sessions, euthymic patients are trained in the use of neurocognitive skills to be applied during their daily routines. Modeling techniques, role playing, self-instructions, verbal instructions, positive reinforcement, and metacognitive cues are some of the techniques that are used in the program. The present report aims at explaining this new intervention to improve functional outcomes in euthymic bipolar patients.