Treatment for Bipolar Disorder Homepage

How is Bipolar Disorder treated? Learn about available bipolar treatments, how they work, their effectiveness, along with risks and side-effects.

The first thing you need to know is that you are unique. A bipolar treatment that works for someone else may not work for you. Although this can lead to heart-breaking rounds of hit or miss therapy, the good news is there are so many treatments for bipolar disorder and combinations to choose from that there is bound to be something that is right for you.

As you read through this section, keep in mind that the overwhelming number of failures in treatment - whether for bipolar or depression - is because patients did not give their bipolar medications a chance to work or by not being compliant with their medications. Likewise, not maintaining one's regimen of bipolar medications over the long term is an extremely reliable predictor of relapse.

We also want to urge you to read our special bipolar treatment section: "The Gold Standard for Treating Bipolar Disorder." It's an in-depth, authoritative examination of the best treatments for bipolar disorder (covering all aspects of treatment for bipolar disorder, from getting a correct diagnosis to bipolar medications, therapy and lifestyle changes.) written by award-winning author, Julie Fast, exclusively for HealthyPlace.com.  This section includes bipolar videos; interviews with Julie Fast.

Bipolar Treatment Sections on HealthyPlace.com

• Gold Standard of Treating Bipolar Disorder (a special section)
• Treatment of Bipolar Disorder (How to Find a Doctor, Treatment Guidelines, Medications, Therapy, ECT, Hospitalization)
• Bipolar Medication Noncompliance and What to Do About It
• Managing Bipolar Disorder (Management Techniques, Recovery Issues, Dealing with Family Issues Resulting from Bipolar Disorder)

How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?

Stages of Treatment

• Acute phase: treatment is aimed at ending the current manic, hypomanic, depressive, or mixed episode
• Preventive or maintenance phase: treatment is continued on a long-term basis to prevent future episodes

Components of Treatment

• Medication is necessary for nearly all patients during acute and preventive phases.
• Education is crucial in helping patients and families learn how best to manage bipolar disorder and prevent its complications.
• Psychotherapy helps patients and families affected by bipolar disorder deal with disturbing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a constructive manner.

next: The First Thing You Need to Find is a Good Doctor. Here's How.