[Psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: what we have to know and what we should disclose]

Treatment is comprised of three components, clinical expertise, clinical research evidence, and patients' preferences. Therefore, clinicians have to provide psychoeducation to enable patients to understand their treatment plan based on clinical expertise and research evidence, and play roles as an important partner. Psychoeducation should be conducted based on mutual participation and understanding between clinicians and patients, and not just as one-sided teaching. Moreover, the aim of pychoeducation is the development of the patient's true insight, composed of recognition of illness, treatment adherence, and relabeling of psychiatric symptoms. A structured group-psychoeducatinal program for bipolar disorders established by Colom et al. is composed of 21 sessions of 90 minutes, each aimed at improving 5 main issues: illness awareness, treatment compliance, substance abuse avoidance, early detection of prodromal symptoms and recurrence and lifestyle regularity. The program has been proven to have long-lasting prophylactic effects and good cost-effectiveness for individuals with bipolar disorders. Reconstruction of the diagnostic system for mental disorders based on elucidation of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of these conditions is required to acquire a better mutual understanding between psychiatrists and patients.