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Recovery

How is recovery determined?

Recovery is a goal with multiple features, including remission of symptoms, functional recovery, prevention of relapse or recurrence of mood symptoms, and improved subjective quality of life.

Syndromal recovery is a pre-requisite for complete symptomatic remission. Syndromal recovery means that the person may have some residual symptoms, but no longer meets the criteria for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder by current standards. Symptomatic recovery or remission indicates any residual symptom would not be outside the normal range of experience for someone who never had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

What is the evidence for recovery in bipolar disorder?

Moderate quality evidence suggests rates of syndromal recovery are around 77% at 6 months, and up to 84% at 4 years following a first episode of mania in people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Rates of symptomatic recovery are lower, with rates around 58% at 6 months, and 72% at 2 years.

May 2020

Last updated at: 3:48 am, 28th May 2020
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Fact Sheet Technical Commentary

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