A Guide to Bipolar Disorder Treatments

Bipolar disorder is a medical illness which causes periods of depression and mania. These periods, or episodes, can last anywhere from a few days to several months. Some sufferers experience periods of normal emotional functioning in between the manic and depressive episodes. There are four types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder and Unspecified Bipolar disorder. They are all primarily the same in that the sufferer experiences highs and lows. There are several different bipolar disorder treatments that may be used by your doctor or psychiatrist.

Medication is often used to treat this disorder. There are three different categories of medicines that may be used -- antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat this disorder, although they have been shown to potentially increase the risk of manic episodes. Sometimes antidepressants are used in conjuction with mood stabilizers. Examples of common antidepressants include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor and Celexa. Mood stabilizers are used to keep the mood at an even level and may help prevent or delay manic or depressive episodes. Lithium is a commonly used mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. Then there are antipsychotics like Haldol, which are sometimes prescribed when episodes are extremely severe.

Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT is sometimes used as an alternative or addition to medication. During ECT, electric current is sent to a certain area or areas of the brain. While this may sound extremely uncomfortable, it's quite tolerable for many patients. Usually before the procedure begins, a short-term anesthesia is administered. On average, a patient will need multiple sessions of ECT each week.

Talk therapy is another treatment option for bipolar sufferers and is commonly used along with medication. During talk therapy, the sufferer talks to a mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist about their lives and anything that might be bothering them. They may also find it helpful to discuss their disorder and how they feel about it. Some therapy sessions are held in a one-on-one format, while others are held in a group format. Many people choose to attend both individual and group sessions.

Bipolar disorder treatments are usually only effective if the bipolar individual is willing to give them a fair try. In addition to medication and therapy, self-help may provide various benefits as well. This may mean reading more about their medical condition and keeping a journal of thoughts and feelings. Keeping track of symptoms and triggers may also be helpful for many bipolar individuals. Often, therapists will give homework to their patients as a way to continue the benefits of therapy at home.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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