In spite of the above difficulties, there are core
elements of psychoeducation which are often
included in, but are not the defining aspects of,
other specific psychological therapies. These are
education about the illness, the importance of regular
routines and medication adherence, early
detection of warning signs of relapse with strategies
to prevent progression into full episodes, and
enhancement of general coping strategies (10).
Reviews of psychoeducation for bipolar disorder,
while concluding that it is effective in preventing
relapse (3, 6, 7), have commented that more evidence
is needed that psychoeducation itself is effective,
rather than as part of a multicomponent
approach (6), and that the active ingredient and
level of expertise needed for effective delivery are
unclear (3)