For people experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder:
There are several approaches available for the treatment of bipolar disorder, which most often includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The main treatment for an episode of mania or hypomania is typically antipsychotic medications while treatment for depression in people with bipolar may be psychological therapy on its own or combined with medication.
Medication There are different medications that have been found to be effective for people with bipolar disorder to manage symptoms. It’s important to discuss medication with a psychiatrist and to explore the different options that may be available, including any side effects.
Some of the options are:
Lithium- this is the most common and effective type of mood stabiliser used for treating bipolar disorder. The difficulty is getting the level of Lithium in the body right. Too low and it won’t work, too high and it becomes toxic. So, you will need regular blood tests in the first few weeks to make sure you are getting the right dose. Some of the side effects that can occur with taking Lithium can include: feeling thirsty, passing more urine than usual and weight gain.
Anti-convulsant drugs- examples of these include, Sodium Valproate and Lamotrigine (used to treat epilepsy) have also been found to be effective in controlling moods. It’s important to discuss your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby as valproate and lamotrigine can have negative side effects.
Anti-psychotic medication- examples of these include, Olanzapine and Quetiapine
Talking Therapies
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works best for handling specific “thought errors” and behaviours. For example, if a teenager with bipolar disorder tends to catastrophize when depressed, seeing only the negative side of everything and then becoming further depressed as a result, cognitive therapy can help them find strategies for breaking this negative thought pattern.
These strategies might include the use of affirmations, consulting with the therapist or another trusted adult to double-check negative thoughts, or mentally substituting positive thoughts for the negative ones. CBT has also shown effectiveness for educating bipolar patients about monitoring their mood cycles and symptoms, and for encouraging treatment compliance.
Peer support and self-managementPeer support and self-management can have a positive impact on mental health and as medical treatment for people with mental health problems, including those experiencing bi-polar disorder.
The Mental Health Foundation’s peer led self-management training, which was developed and delivered by mental health service users for people with psychiatric conditions (including those with bipolar) showed improvements in wellbeing and health promoting lifestyle activity as well as the potential for long-term health outcomes.
Useful links
NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance for those with bipolar disorder which provides advice on the care and support that should be offered to people with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar UK This is a user led charity working to enable people affected by bipolar disorder to take control of their lives Tel: 020 7931 6480
Rethink Mental Illness A charity which provides advice and information and services and groups across England. For more information about the organisation visit rethink.org.