These updated guideline series is based on first editions that were published in 2002-2004, and have now been edited and updated with the available scientific evidence until end of 2009. The series consists of three separate guidelines: mania, bipolar depression and maintenance treatment. The purpose is to supply a systematic overview of all scientific evidence pertaining to the treatment of bipolar disorder in adults. The data used for these evidence-based guidelines have been extracted from a MEDLINE and EMBASE search, the Science Citation Index at Web of Science (ISI), from recent proceedings of key conferences, from various national and inter-national treatment guidelines and by hand-searching in text books. In addition, www.clinicaltrials.gov was accessed to check for unpublished studies.
Their scientific rigor was categorised into six levels of evidence (A-F). As these guidelines are intended for clinical use, the scientific evidence was finally assigned different grades of recommendation to ensure practicability.
These guidelines were established without any financial support from pharmaceutical companies and have been approved by the 53 members of the WFSBP Task Force on Treatment Guidelines for Bipolar Disorders. Experts of the task force were selected according to their expertise and with the aim to cover a multitude of different cultures. Their critical review and addition of remarks about specific treatment peculiarities in their respective countries may give these guidelines authority beyond national borders.