Treatment for bipolar disorder
Medications
Mood stabilisers can help reduce both manic and depressive episodes and are usually taken continuously as a preventative measure.
These drugs are used both to treat mania as well as to prevent further episodes of mania and depression. Common mood stabilisers include:
- Lithium
- Sodium Valporate
- Lamotrigine
- Carbamazepine
People with bipolar disorder can be prescribed a number of medications. A combination of antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilisers is usually prescribed in both the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder.
Antipsychotics are especially good for reducing manic episodes, while antidepressants are used primarily during depressive episodes.
Psychosocial treatments
As an addition to medication, psychosocial treatments including certain types of talking therapy are helpful in providing support, education, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Studies have shown that psychosocial interventions can lead to more stable moods, fewer hospitalisations, and improved functioning .
These include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – is particularly recommended for the depressive episodes.
- Psycho-education - involves teaching people with bipolar disorder about the illness, its treatment and how to recognise triggers which might cause relapse so that early intervention can be sought before a full-blown illness episode occurs.
- Family therapy – this uses strategies to reduce the level of distress within the family which may either contribute to or result from the person's symptoms.
Bipolar is a recurrent illness and therefore long-term preventative treatment is strongly recommended.
Self Care and management
It is thought that self care can have a large role to play in helping people manage bipolar. Healthcare professionals should give advice about lifestyle decisions such as exercising and eating well. Keeping regular sleeping patterns is also thought to be helpful in preventing episodes.
