Treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder: a bit unrealistic, but indispensable

Treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder may represent useful tools in choosing appropriate treatments, evaluating the role of specific interventions in the management and for following-up an illness, and evidence of the usefulness of their implementation has been produced. Guidelines cannot replace clinical knowledge that aims to improve patient health globally. However, guidelines remain a point of reference when they merge efficacy, safety and tolerability (which, combined together, constitute what we term effectiveness). A priority in the development of future guidelines and updates, should be a reader-friendly organization of the document, with clear algorithms and with limited dispersion of information allowing the better dissemination and implementation.