Abstract
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy is an individual psychotherapy designed specifically
for the treatment for bipolar disorder. Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy grew
from a chronobiological model of bipolar disorder postulating that individuals with
bipolar disorder have a genetic predisposition to circadian rhythm and sleep–wake
cycle abnormalities that may be responsible, in part, for the symptomatic manifestations
of the illness. In our model, life events (both negative and positive) may cause disruptions
in patients’ social rhythms that, in turn, perturb circadian rhythms and sleep–wake
cycles and lead to the development of bipolar symptoms. Administered in concert with
medications, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy combines the basic principles
of interpersonal psychotherapy with behavioral techniques to help patients regularize
their daily routines, diminish interpersonal problems, and adhere to medication regimens.
It modulates both biological and psychosocial factors to mitigate patients’ circadian
and sleep–wake cycle vulnerabilities, improve overall functioning, and better manage
the potential chaos of bipolar disorder symptomatology.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 22,
2000
Received in revised form:
June 14,
2000
Received:
March 3,
2000
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
