Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

The first thing you need to know is that you are unique. A 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 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 depression or bipolar - 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 medications over the long term is an extremely reliable predictor of relapse.

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.

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