Today, we're bringing you updates on light therapy from the 2023 International Bipolar Conference.

Welcome to the Carlet Psychiatry Podcast, keeping psychiatry honest since 2003.

I'm Chris Aiken, the editor-in-chief of the Carlat Psychiatry Report.

And I'm Kelly Newsom, a psychiatric MP, and a dedicated reader of every issue.

You want to know what really bothers people with bipolar disorder?

It's when they get emotional, like when someone mistreats them and they get angry, or they

go through a setback or a loss and they get sad.

That's no different from the way it is for you and me, but here's what is different.

When people with bipolar disorder get emotional, someone will innocently ask them,

Did you take your medication today?

That is a loaded question.

And part of the loading is the idea that medications are the only way to treat bipolar disorder.

So come along with us to the International Bipolar Conference,

where we're learned that medications are rarely enough. It is a biopsychosocial,

spiritual, environmental illness. And today, we're going to focus on one aspect of the environment,

light. But first, a recap of past lessons and a preview of the CME quiz for this episode.

1. Screen for Bip with a tool that looks at signs and symptoms of the illness,

like the rapid mood screener or the bipolarity index.

2. Use more lithium.

3. Move lauradone up in your treatment algorithms now that it's generic.

And keep Robert posts three L's on the tip of your tongue for bipolar depression, lithium, lemotrogen, and

larazidone. 4. Avoid valproate in women of childbearing age.

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