Bipolar Disorder and Co-occurring Substance Use and Misuse

Sunday, September 10, 2023

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM CT

Location: Davidson C

Speaker(s)

Joseph Goldberg, MD

clinical professor of psychiatry
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Individuals with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders, which can significantly complicate the management of their bipolar symptoms. The session will provide an overview of the prevalence and impact of co-occurring substance use and bipolar disorder, explore the complex interplay between substance use and bipolar disorder, including how substance use can trigger or exacerbate bipolar symptoms, and examine how bipolar disorder can increase the risk of substance use.

This session will also discuss the challenges of diagnosing and treating co-occurring substance use and bipolar disorder, including the need for integrated treatment approaches that address both conditions. Participants will learn about evidence-based treatment options, such as pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, and how to tailor treatment to the unique needs of individuals with co-occurring substance use and bipolar disorder.

Learning Objectives:

To recognize how substance use disorders alter the presentations of, and interfere with making valid diagnoses of, bipolar disorder
To describe the impact of comorbid substance use disorders on the prognosis, course and outcome of bipolar disorder
To describe evidence-based treatments, and their limitations, for patients with dual-diagnosis bipolar and substance use disorders