Overview

Bipolar Disorder (BPD) has long been recognised as correlated with trauma and co-ocurring with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and substance abuse and dependence. Pharmacological treatment is not sufficient to move beyond broad mood stabilisation, so that episodes of mood stabilisation often continue to occur. This means that people experiencing BPD, and their support networks, remain sensitive to environmental factors that influence mood instability.

In this webinar, BPD will be viewed from a neurobiological perspective and linked with similar mechanisms in frequently co-occurring conditions. A case will be made for using trauma-informed approach and trauma therapy along with a breakdown of how therapeutic priorities might be determined. 

It will offer an exploration of BPD, its definition and clinical presentation, neurobiological mechanisms that underpin co-occurring conditions, and trauma-related factors. Participants will learn how to apply a trauma-informed, transdiagnostic formulation to guide therapy, structure clinical priorities, and complement pharmacological interventions. Drawing on neurobiological research and clinical practice, the session will provide practical recommendations for integrating treatment approaches to enhance and accelerate therapeutic outcomes. Case studies will demonstrate how a multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaborates effectively, highlighting how each clinician can contribute to comprehensive, long-term recovery planning for individuals experiencing BPD.

Level of Learning

Intermediate. This activity is targeted to those with some previous learning on the topic.

Duration of access

These webinars will be recorded and made available only to participants of the live event for 12 months. The recording is not intended to replace live participation.

Places are limited and registration will not be available after the webinar has taken place.

APS CPD Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinars, participants should be able to:

• understand bipolar disorders and how they present clinically,

• understand bipolar disorder from a neurobiological perspective that extends transdiagnostically across co-occurring presentations that are also associated with trauma – demonstrating the link that supports the application of a trauma informed perspective and practice, and

• formulate bipolar and co-occurring presentations transdiagnostically to structure therapy and develop clinical priorities and to work complementarily with pharmaco-active treatments

Presenter(s)

Dr Gillian Maddock MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Dr Gillian Maddock is a Clinical Psychologist who lives and works in NSW, Australia. Gillian has worked across a range of settings and presently splits her time between clinical work in private practice with a focus on trauma and co-morbid presentations (including bipolar disorder), clinical supervision, case consulting EMDR practitioners, running EMDR trainings and is a secondary supervisor for PhD projects in trauma and EMDR. Gillian also teaches as a conjoint at the University of Newcastle in the Clinical Psychology Masters program in the area of Bipolar Disorder and trauma. Gillian is an EMDR Institute Trainer providing EMDR basic trainings, refresher and advanced trainings. She is passionate about offering high quality evidence based trainings and continuing to engage in conversations about mental health and the human experience, especially welcoming early career clinicians to these conversations.