What is Bipolar Disorder?
 Treatment
Most people with manic-depressive illness can be helped with treatment.
Almost all people with bipolar disorder-even those with the most severe
forms can obtain substantial stabilization of their mood swings. One
medication, lithium, is usually very effective in
controlling mania an preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive
episodes.
More recently, the anticonvulsants carbamazepine and valproate have also
been found useful, especially in more refractory bipolar episodes.
For depression, several types of antidepressants can be useful when combined
with lithium, carbamazepine, or valproate.
Electroconvulsive therapy (electroshock) is often helpful in the treatment
of severe depression and/or mixed mania that does not respond to medications.
As an adjunct to medications, psychotherapy is often helpful in providing
support, education, and guidance to the patient and his or her family.
Getting Help
Anyone with bipolar disorder should be under the care of a psychiatrist
skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Other mental health
professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatric social workers, can assist
in providing he patient and his or her family with additional approaches to
treatment.
People with manic-depressive illness often need help to get help. Often
people with this disorder do not recognize how impaired they are or blame their
problems on some cause other than mental illness.
People with bipolar disorder need strong encouragement from family and
friends to seek treatment. Family physicians can play an important role for
such referral. If this does not work, loved ones must take the patient for
proper mental health evaluation and treatment. If the person is in the midst of
a severe episode, he or she may have to be committed to a hospital for his or
her own protection and for much needed treatment.
Anyone who is considering suicide needs immediate attention, preferably from
a mental health professional or a physician; school counselors and members of
the clergy can also assist in detecting and/or making a referral for more
definitive assessment or treatment. With appropriate help and treatment, it is
possible to overcome suicidal tendencies.
It is important for patients to understand that bipolar disorder will not go
away, and that continued compliance with treatment is needed to keep the
disease under control.
Ongoing encouragement and support are needed after the person obtains
treatment, because it may take a while to discover what therapeutic regimen is
best for that particular patient.
Many people receiving treatment also benefit from joining mutual support
groups. Families and friends of people with bipolar disorder can also benefit
from mutual support groups.
Now if you're ready to find out what it's really like living with
bipolar, read my diary.
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