John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP
Posted December 2008
John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP is Professor of psychology with Alliant International University, Sacramento. He has also taught on the faculty of UC Davis, School of Medicine. Dr. Preston is the author of twenty books, with topics including psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and neurobiology. His books have been translated into 14 foreign languages. He is also the co-editor of Best Practices series on evidence based psychological treatments and the author of Drugs in Psychiatry chapter in The Encyclopaedia Americana.
Dr. Preston is the recipient of the Mental Health Association's President's Award and the California Psychological Association's Distinguished Contributions to Psychology Award. He has lectured in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Russia.
1) How long have you been helping people with bipolar disorder?
Dr. Preston: 28 years
2) What advice do you have for a person recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder?
Dr. Preston:
- You and your family need to become experts on this disorder. It is important to know as much as you can so you can be in a good position to understand treatment options and be an advocate for yourself.
- You are a key person in the treatment. Those who have good outcomes with bipolar disorder are not passive patients but ones who can ask questions and be open and assertive with health care providers. You have a right to ask questions and to be heard when you have concerns about your treatment.
- Medication treatment is a must. Many people have tried to treat bipolar disorder without medications. Lifestyle and stress management help, but this is a medical illness and must be treated with appropriate medications.
3) What advice do you have for the family and friends of someone recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder?
Dr. Preston: Find the right provider: someone that is completely open to hearing all of your concerns.
4) What is the most common mistake that you see a person with bipolar disorder make after receiving initial or prolonged treatment (e.g. coming off medication, drug/alcohol use, etc.)?
Dr. Preston: Non-compliance with medications is the number one problem; second to this is on-going alcohol or other substance abuse....
5) In your experience, do you think it is possible for a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder to live a relatively stable and productive life once they are receiving proper treatment?
Dr. Preston: Yes, but it requires two things: compliance with medical treatment and paying a lot of attention to life style issues: most important are maintaining very regular sleeping schedules, not taking on too many obligations, and staying away from alcohol and excessive caffeine use. Sleep disruption is a key factor in episode recurrence: maintaining regular sleep patterns is often the key to success.
6) In your opinion, how has the mental health field changed over the past 10 years? Better or worse?
Dr. Preston:
Better: realization that treatments need to focus not only on medications but also on life style management and recognizing the importance of psychotherapy.
Worse: treatment that only focuses on medication management and brief, infrequent medication appointments. Psychiatrists need to be available for any questions and concerns and open to hearing all concerns patients have, e.g. concerns regarding medication side effects...
Website
Some of Dr. Preston's Published Books
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Your Moods
By John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner
By Julie A. Fast & John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP
Get It Done When Youre Depressed
By Julie A. Fast & John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP
Take Charge Of Your Bipolar Disorder
By Julie A. Fast & John D. Preston, Psy.D., ABPP
A full listing of Dr. Preston's books can be found here:
www.psyd-fx.com/html/books.html
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