Co-morbid Bipolar and Alcohol Use Disorders: A Treatment-Focused Review

Co-morbid bipolar and alcohol use disorders are common, difficult to properly diagnose, and associated with poor outcome. The present article concisely reviews the diagnosis, epidemiology, consequences, and neurobiological similarities among individuals with dual diagnoses and reviews the pharmacological and psychosocial treatment of bipolar and alcohol use disorders both alone and in combination. Evidence for the efficacy of treatments for individuals with dual diagnoses (i.e., divalproex, atypical antipsychotics, naltrexone, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and integrated group therapy) is discussed, and areas for future treatment development and evaluation are identified.