Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Most people with bipolar disorder, even those with the most severe forms, can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment. As bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated.

A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is optimal for managing the disorder over time. In most cases, bipolar disorder is much better controlled if treatment is continuous than if it is on and off. But even when there are no breaks in treatment, mood changes can occur and should be reported immediately to your doctor. The doctor may be able to prevent a full-blown episode by making adjustments to the treatment plan. Working closely with the doctor and communicating openly about treatment concerns and options can make a difference in treatment effectiveness.

Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) is the largest treatment study of bipolar disorder conducted to date. The aim of this long-term study was to find out which treatments or combinations of treatments are most effective for treating bipolar episodes and preventing new episodes. In fact, a great deal more information, beyond the effectiveness of treatment, is coming out of this program.

Psychotherapy can be a valuable component of treatment for someone suffering from bipolar disorder. Some psychological theories exist which implicate various environmental or psychological factors that significantly contribute to this disorder. These are often overlooked in treatment of bipolar disorder, but should be carefully considered.

Overall, the treatment of choice for bipolar disorder allowing for a person's highest functioning is Lithium Carbonate, taken orally. While it's most effective in those individuals who tend to be more manic in their bipolar presentation, it can also show effectiveness in other individuals.

Lithium will usually bring most people out of a manic episode. For those people who cannot tolerate lithium carbonate or its side effects, though, there are few treatment options for mania. Depakote is the most commonly prescribed treatment alternative to lithium, and should be considered. Anti-psychotic medication is often prescribed in more rare instances, such as Haloperidol or Chlorpromazine.

Next article: Bipolar Disorder Treatment Overview

Followed by:

Electroconvulsive Therapy - Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Therapeutic Methods For Bipolar Disorder

Alternative Treatments For Bipolar Disorder

Managing Bipolar Disorder During Pregnancy

Managing Bipolar Disorder Without Medication

When Hospitalization Is Necessary