Overall, studies of life events have found that bipolar individuals experience increased stressful events
prior to first onset and recurrences of mood episodes. Moreover, most studies have found that negative
life events precede the manic/hypomanic as well as the depressive episodes of bipolar individuals. We
briefly review the more methodologically limited retrospective studies first, followed by the stronger
prospective studies. We then consider whether specific types of life events or events at earlier points in
the bipolar disorder’s course are particularly likely to precipitate bipolar mood episodes. In addition, we
review studies of a psychosocial treatment designed to reduce the effects of life events that are likely to
trigger bipolar mood episodes.