Understanding Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
January 2, 2009 by BipolarChick
Filed under Alternative Treatments, Anti-Anxiety, Anti-Convulsants, Anti-Depressants, Anti-Psychotics, Bipolar Disorder, CBT, Group Therapy, Medications, Mood Stabilizers, Psychotherapy, Recovery, Self-Help & Improvement, Therapy, Treatment
At present, treatment for bipolar disorder is most often with a combination of a mood-stabilizing drug and psychotherapy. The main mood-stabilizing drugs used for the treatment of bipolar disorder include lithium carbonate, valproic acid (also known as Depakote) and carbamazepine (Tegretol), Lamictal, Topamax, Gabitril, and many other antiepileptic agents. They also include some newer antipsycohitic agents.
While drug treatment is primary, ongoing psychotherapy is important to help patients understand and accept the personal and social disruptions of past episodes and better cope with future ones. In addition, since denial is often a problem, routine psychotherapy helps patients stay on their medications. (Patient compliance is particularly tricky in adolescence.) Almost all forms of psychotherapy can be used — cognitive, behavioral, or psychodynamic; individual, family, or group therapy.
The family or spouse of a patient should be involved with any treatment. Having full information about the disease and its manifestations is important for both the patient and loved ones.
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Table of contents for Bipolar Disorder 101:
- Introduction to Bipolar Disorder: What You Need to Know
- Types of Bipolar Disorder
- Common Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
- Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
- Causes of Bipolar Disorder
- After Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
- Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
- Medications Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder
- Coping with Bipolar Disorder
- For Friends and Family of Bipolars
- Teen Bipolar Disorder
- Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder
- Understanding Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
- Tips on Managing Mania
- Managing the Balancing Act with Bipolar Disorder
- Ten Common Mistakes People Who Have Bipolar Disorder Make
- Take Control of Your Life and Bipolar Disorder
- Complications of Bipolar Disorder
