Cardiovascular Disease and Bipolar Disorder: Risk and Clinical Implications

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Bipolar disorder is a multisystemic disorder affecting not only thymic regulation but also immunologic function and cardiovascular status. Although many psychotropic medications clearly exacerbate medical risk, bipolar disorder itself appears to confer risk for cardiovascular disease independent of treatments used to manage the disorder. In this article, we review the current understanding of the reciprocal relationships between medical burden and bipolar disorder and discuss the implications for the care of individuals who are likely to require treatment for more than just their psychiatric symptoms.