| Bipolar disorder affects the brain, and as such is | | | | mental illness is not very well known to the public, |
| classified as a psychiatric or mental illness. Its | | | | and these therapies help people understand it better |
| treatment involves combinations of pharmacological | | | | and know precisely how to cope with the stresses |
| intervention in the form of special medications in | | | | that trigger its onset. |
| addition to psychological therapy, although the latter | | | | While medications and psychosocial therapy is almost |
| may sometimes be unnecessary for milder cases. For | | | | always present in a Bipolar disorder treatment plan, |
| more extreme cases, hospitalization at a psychiatric | | | | dosages and schedules may change as the patient's |
| institution is sometimes necessary for the patient's | | | | condition gets better. When the mental illness |
| recovery. Other, less common treatments are also | | | | regresses to a more manageable level, some aspects |
| sometimes considered, but only in the most severe | | | | of the treatment plan may not need to be followed |
| cases. | | | | anymore, or changed to something more suited to |
| To date, the bipolar disorder has no known cure. But | | | | the illness' level. It's difficult to find two cases that |
| several treatments have been developed over the | | | | are exactly the same, so treatment and |
| years since the mental illness' discovery, and many | | | | management varies from patient to patient. |
| have been found to be quite effective. Often, all it | | | | Professional help is almost certainly needed for the |
| takes for a patient to recover and return to a | | | | individual to enjoy lasting freedom from the |
| normal, productive lifestyle is an accurate diagnosis of | | | | symptoms. |
| the disorder, after which a tailor-made treatment | | | | Today's treatments for Bipolar disorder are very |
| regimen may be prescribed. | | | | effective, and newer and better treatments are |
| Medication has been found to be very effective in | | | | being developed all the time. No matter the type of |
| treating the some of the known symptoms, and is | | | | treatment, the management of Bipolar disorder |
| frequently included in treatment plans. "Mood | | | | usually comes in three parts: |
| stabilizers" are medications that are often effective in | | | | • Alleviating the current episode or attack |
| directly treating the symptoms, as well as in the | | | | • Preventing any recurrence of the episode |
| therapy's maintenance phases. The following include | | | | • Helping the patient recover |
| some of the more common medications used to this | | | | Another aspect worth noting is the fact that it has |
| end: | | | | two distinct, polar-opposite conditions to treat: mania |
| • Lithium | | | | and depression. Most treatment plans today involve |
| • Antiepileptic drugs | | | | more than one medication to treat both conditions. |
| • Conventional antipsychotics | | | | Bipolar disorder is also a biological occurrence caused |
| • Newer antipsychotics | | | | by genetic elements, and as such all treatment is |
| • Antidepressants | | | | basically long-term. Any negligence on the part of the |
| • Anti-anxiety medications | | | | patient or the medical professional may result in a |
| In addition to medication, a measure of psychosocial | | | | relapse. |
| therapy is also suggested, such as family therapy, | | | | For more information on treating bipolar disorder |
| interpersonal therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, | | | | please follow the link. |
| and psychoeducation. The characteristics of the | | | | |