Psychological Adjuncts Bipolar — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — A structured, manualised individual, group or family intervention designed for bipolar disorder
The correct answer is B. NICE recommends offering a structured psychological intervention—delivered individually, in a group or with the family—that was designed specifically for bipolar disorder and has a published evidence-based manual. This applies to relapse prevention and to persisting symptoms between manic or depressive episodes. Such interventions include psychoeducation, mood and behaviour monitoring, identification of relapse risks and early warning signs, and development of a staying-well plan. Supportive counselling without structured relapse work is insufficient. Unadapted CBT for unipolar depression does not address bipolar-specific relapse risks. Family intervention is not restricted to episodes caused by family conflict, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy is not NICE's preferred relapse-prevention intervention.
Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Bipolar disorder: assessment and management (CG185), recommendations 1.7.2–1.7.4. Published 2014; last updated 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg185/chapter/Recommendations