Preventive strategies in bipolar disorders: Identifying targets for early intervention

Abstract

Introduction Intervention in the early phases of mental disorders has become a major clinical and research focus and is one of the main challenges facing contemporary mental health. This growing interest has led to the development of new lines of enquiry as well as the implementation of new types of treatment programme and services. In this context, the early phase of psychosis has attracted considerable attention in recent years; the therapeutic strategies that have been developed as a consequence may be beginning to improve the outcome of these conditions (McGorry & Jackson, 1999). Yet, most of the attention has been directed to schizophrenia, probably in reaction to the pessimism traditio..