How to Find a Bipolar Treatment Center

Bipolar disorder is a serious illness that affects 5 to 7 million people in the United States a year. It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of people with bipolar have relatives who have a history of mood or affective disorders. A comprehensive approach (i.e. intensive psychotherapy) to treatment is recommended and there are specialized clinics devoted to bipolar disorder which can provide appropriate treatment options.

Instructions

Choosing the Right Treatment

• 1

  Find a psychiatrist or general practitioner who has experience and training in treating bipolar disorder. The Depression and Bipolar Alliance offers listings of bipolar treatments centers on their website. From the website, after reading the disclaimer, press "accept" and you will be navigated to a new page, "search for a psychiatric facility." Type in city, state and type of treatment you need (bipolar), and the site will populate the results.

• 2

  Try Clinicaltrials.gov. Clinicaltrials has listings of federal and private clinical trials for a variety of medical conditions in the U.S. and in the world. Clinicaltrials researches new methods of treating diseases with human volunteers. Volunteers may be asked to provide information about their illnesses and try new drugs to treat their disease. There are specific trials for bipolar disorder and the website will indicate whether a clinical trial is closed, recruiting or not recruiting volunteers. Narrow your search for trials by state, city and country by clicking on the "refine search" tab at the top of the page.

• 3

  Investigate Network of Care. Network of Care is a program which gives information on mental health services, support groups and services within the community for 21 states. From the website, click on "mental behavioral health." This will link directly to the mental health agency in your county where you can find a center which specializes in bipolar treatment. If your state is not listed on the Network of Care site, try the mental health services locator which is a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMHSA). Click on your state and then on the mental health facilities locator. The locator will pull up listings of inpatient and outpatient clinics where you inquire about specific bipolar treatment.

• 4

  Be clear about the types of treatment. Make sure you are actively engaged with your mental health provider when planning a treatment program. Because of the complexity and course of bipolar disorder, an integrative treatment approach should be considered. Treatment options for bipolar can include: talk therapy (supportive education for patients and family members), mood stabilizers, peer support and lifestyle changes (understanding your bipolar illness).