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Bipolar Psychoeducation — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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ModerateMood DisordersBipolar PsychoeducationMRCPsych Paper B

A 34-year-old woman with bipolar I disorder is currently in remission and receiving maintenance treatment with lithium. She asks whether psychoeducation has a role in her longer-term management. Which statement best reflects the recommendation in NICE CG185?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Offer a manualised, bipolar-specific structured psychological intervention, individually, in a group or with family, to prevent relapse or address persisting inter-episode symptoms.

The correct answer is C. NICE recommends offering a structured psychological intervention specifically designed for bipolar disorder, supported by a published evidence-based manual, to prevent relapse or address persisting symptoms between episodes. It may be delivered individually, in a group or with family and should include psychoeducation, mood self-monitoring, recognition of relapse risk and planning for staying well. It complements rather than substitutes for maintenance medication, so C is incorrect. Carers should also receive education and support, but this does not replace patient-focused intervention, excluding D. The recommendation is not restricted to the period after mania and also applies during longer-term remission or when inter-episode symptoms persist, excluding E. NICE does not regard the evidence as insufficient, so A is incorrect.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Bipolar disorder: assessment and management (CG185), recommendations 1.7.3–1.7.4. Published 2014; updated 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg185/chapter/recommendations