Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families, Francis Mark Mondimore. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1999. (Paperback, 277 pages, $16.95)

In 1990, psychiatrist Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D., a member of the clinical faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, wrote the excellent book Depression: The Mood Disease (Johns Hopkins University Press; revised in 1993). His new book, Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families, is the first of its kind: a book written for the lay reader that provides basic information about bipolar disorder. Like the earlier book, it is comprehensive, authoritative, easy to read, useful, and practical. Dr. Mondimore writes elegantly, informally, very clearly (with no hint of "talking down"), and with unmistakable empathy for patients.

Bipolar Disorder has four parts: "Symptoms, Syndromes, and Diagnosis," "Treatment," "Variations, Causes, and Connections" (the illness in children, adolescents, and women; interrelated medical conditions; brain imaging; and creativity), and "Getting Better and Staying Well." It provides both broad and in-depth coverage, and its main points are illustrated with case studies drawn from the author's personal experience.

Although Dr. Mondimore's view of bipolar disorder is, as one reader commented, "100% mainstream biopsychiatry," he considers psychotherapy to be an important component of treatment, saying that even with the effectiveness of medication treatment, "every bipolar patient needs psychotherapy at one point or another."

Dr. Mondimore explains the principles of "mood hygiene," giving excellent advice about behavior that the patient can adopt to reduce the risk of relapse. [Ed. note: Although Dr. Mondimore uses the term "relapse prevention" in this part of the book, he clearly means that it is a goal of mood hygiene, not a sure consequence.] The first task for patients is to accept the reality of their illness. Then they must learn to take as much responsibility for controlling their illness as they can, but they also need to prepare for potential crises.

In Bipolar Disorder Dr. Mondimore focuses on information that patients and families actually want and need. His coverage of less central subjects, such as the use of the DSM IV (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) and the history of pertinent research findings, can be omitted by casual readers without their losing any critical information. Of special note is the "Resources" section, which includes "Recommended Reading," "Support and Advocacy Organizations" (including DRADA), and "Internet Resources."

Bipolar Disorder is a readable and comprehensive source of information, and Dr. Mondimore's guidelines for maintaining mood stability provide renewed hope that patients can lead healthier, more fulfilling and productive lives. The book can be helpful to social workers and other nonmedical caregivers and is suitable for anyone interested in the subject. Most of all, it will help patients and their family members and friends to deal with the bipolar illness that has burdened their lives.

Without exception, the contributors to this review consider Dr. Mondimore's Bipolar Disorder a welcome and much-needed contribution to the understanding of bipolar illness and how to live with it.

by Anne Heasty, M.S. and Louise Riemer
DRADA Book Committee.
Smooth Sailing: Summer 1999

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