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Prevention of Bipolar Disorder: Are We Almost There?

  • Bipolar Disorder (J Soares and M Sanches, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

A considerable portion of bipolar patients do not respond well to available therapeutic strategies. Therefore, early identification of BD and its possible prevention are of high interest. We performed a critical review of the literature, focusing on the evidence with putative implications for the prevention of BD.

Recent Findings

Several psychopathological findings among individuals at high genetic risk for BD may correspond to a prodromal stage of BD. Neuroimaging alterations and other biological findings among those at high risk for BD have also been identified. However, the ability of these strategies to predict future progression to BD is limited. Similarly, available evidence does not support the preventive treatment of individuals at high risk for BD.

Summary

Current research findings do not support the implementation of therapeutic interventions aiming at the prevention of BD. The therapeutic approach for symptomatic non-bipolar individuals at high genetic risk for BD is of high interest from a clinical and research standpoint.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UT Health Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, 1941 East Rd, Houston, TX, 77054, USA

    Marsal Sanches & Jair C. Soares

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  1. Marsal Sanches
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  2. Jair C. Soares
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Correspondence to Marsal Sanches.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Sanches has nothing to disclose. Dr. Soares reports research support from Allergan, Alkermes, Bristol Myers Squibb, Compass Pathways, Elan, Forest, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, membership at the Abbott and Sanofi speakers bureau, and consultancy for Astellas, outside the submitted work.

Human and Animal Rights

All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Bipolar Disorder

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Sanches, M., Soares, J.C. Prevention of Bipolar Disorder: Are We Almost There?. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 7, 62–67 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-020-00203-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40473-020-00203-8

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