Bipolar Treatment Options

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a severe mood disorder that develops in late adolescence. It is defined by an extreme shift in mood from abnormal energy and euphoria to an unnatural emotional low coupled with a lack of energy. Individuals who have bipolar disorder will experience at least two shifts in mood during one calendar year, and these moods can last between two weeks and upwards of eight months. There is no cure for bipolar disorder, however, there are many types of treatments that help relieve symptoms and minimize the disruption of the patient's life.

Medication

• There are several classifications of medication that help to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder, including anti-depressants and mood stabilizers. Anti-depressants are prescribed for episodes of low mood and help keep levels of serotonin and melatonin, two brain chemicals associated with depression, in the normal range. Patients are often encouraged to start a regimen of anti-depressants as soon as they feel symptoms begin to onset or as soon as they come off of a manic episode as it takes between two and four weeks to take effect. Mood stabilizers are prescribed to help treat symptoms of a manic episode, and the most common medication in this category is lithium. Lithium works to not only lessen the severity of the current manic episode, but also keep reactive depressive episodes shorter and more infrequent.

Cognitive Talk Therapy

• Medication is rarely used on its own to treat bipolar disorder and is often coupled with a form of cognitive talk therapy. During talk therapy, the patient learns to understand his own thought process, motivations, triggers, and actions through reviewing them with a licensed psychological professional. There are several subtypes of talk therapy that a bipolar patient may find helpful, including family therapy where the patient has sessions with one or more family members, and group therapy, where the patient interacts with between five and ten other therapy patients.

Electric Shock Therapy

• In extreme cases, patients who do not respond to other forms of treatment may receive electric shock therapy (ECT). ECT works by running an electrical current through the brain for up to 90 seconds at a time in an attempt to reset the flow of brain chemicals and neuroreceptors. It is a very effective treatment option, yet has a high risk of causing brain damage if performed improperly or applied more than twice within several months.

Alternative Treatments

• There are several forms of alternative treatment available for bipolar patients, however their effectiveness has not been verified by the medical community. These options include meditation, special diets, and herbal supplements. In particular, St. John's Wort and fish oil are recommended to help combat low episodes without medication.

Treatment Challenges

• While it is possible to successfully manage bipolar symptoms through a combination of treatments, it is common for patients to refuse treatment particularly during manic episodes. Many treatment options, especially ECT and mood stabilizer medication, produce side effects which include feelings of emotional detachment or the inability to feel emotion. Individuals who are used to the creative flight of ideas and feelings of euphoria associated with mania shun such treatment options and prefer to live in the instability of their condition than not feel emotionally connected.