Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
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Medications
Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle
Alternative Medicine
Conclusion
Medications
• Treatment of bipolar disorder involves three
therapeutic domains: acute mania, acute
depression, and maintenance.
• Lithium
• Antiepileptic drugs: divalproex, carbamazepine,
and lamotrigine
• Antipsychotic drugs: olanzapine, risperidone, and
quetiapine
• Used alone or in combination, are increasingly
being used successfully to treat acute mania and
to maintain mood stability (McIntyre, 2004).
Psychotherapy and Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy
• When these medications are used with psychotherapy
the treatment is somewhat successful.
• Additionally, when medications, psychotherapy, and
cognitive therapy (teaching one what their BD means
and how it affects them) there is more success.
• Furthermore, when medications, therapies, and
teaching cognitive therapies in prevention for relapse
are included with health and wellness plans, there is
still more success.
• Including all of these things produces
a client-centered therapeutic atmosphere.
Health and Wellness
• A study included thirty-two patients diagnosed with bipolar
disorder, and treated them with six wellness strategies:
• 1) Sleep, rest, exercise and diet
• 2) Ongoing monitoring (Psychotherapy)
• 3) Enacting a plan (Psycotherapy)
• 4) Reflective and meditative practices
• 5) Understanding BD and educating others (Cognitive
Therapy)
• 6) Connecting with others
• The study increased the overall health and wellness of each
patient .
(Suto, 2010)
Why is health so important?
• 84% of all those with bipolar disorder are either overweight or
obese (McElroy, 2002).
• Physical activity and exercise have been proven to aid in treatment
with bipolar patients as a form of therapy, and it is a bonus
treatment for their health:
– Raising serotonin levels decreases the chances of depression or mania
because it acts as a regulatory mechanism (Felicity, 2007).
– Exercise increases neurogenesis and decreases allostatic load which is
activation of the body’s stress response that can be damaging in the
long run (Sylvia, 2010).
– Aerobic exercise has a tremendous benefit to neurocognitive
capabilities besides stabilizing bipolar episodes, it also decreases
memory loss and allows for better cognitive function. (And that’s just
in the brain (Kucyi, 2010). There are many other positive side-effects
from exercising that are good for the body.)
Complimentary and Alternative
Medicine
• Studies using omega-3 fatty acids, acupuncture,
aromatherapy, massage therapy, and yoga as
treatments for bipolar disorder provide little evidence
regarding any benefits because the conclusions are
either inconsistent or the benefits are almost entirely
lacking (Brown, 2005).
• There is sufficient evidence to consider Sudarshan Kriya
Yoga (SKY) to be beneficial for stress, anxiety, or mood
disorders. However, yoga should be used with caution
in bipolar I disorder patients or unstable rapid cyclers.
Some breathing techniques can induce mania, and
some bipolar patients may overuse the practices for
self-stimulation and inadvertently trigger psychosis.
(Andreescue, 2008)
Conclusion
• When medications, psychotherapy (with
client-centered therapy), cognitive Therapy
(including prevention for relapse), and a
healthy lifestyle combine, it creates the most
successful form of treatment for bipolar
patients.
References
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Alsuwaidan, M. T. (2009). Exercise and Bipolar Disorder: A Review of Neurobiological Mediators . Neuromolecular
Medicine , 328-336.
Andreescu, C. (2008). Complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of bipolar disorder--A review of
the evidence. Journal of Affective Disorders , 16-26.
Brown, R. P. (2005). Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—
Clinical Applications and Guidelines. The Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine , 711-717.
Comer, R. J. (2011). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology sixth edition. New York: Worth Publishers.
Felicity, N. (2007). The effects of physical activity in the acute treatment of bipolar disorder: A pilot study. Journal
of Affective Disorders , 259-262.
Kucyi, A. (2010). Aerobic Physical Exercise as a Possible Treatment for Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Bipolar
Disorder. Postgraduate Medicine the Rapid Peer-Reviewed Journal for Physicians , 58-64.
McIntyre, R. S. (2004). Treating bipolar disorder. Evidence-based guidelines for family medicine. The Official
Journal of the College of Family Physicians of Canada , 388-394.
McElroy, S.L. (2002). Correlates of overweight and obesity in 644 patients with bipolar disorder. The Journal of
Clinical Psychiatry , 207-213.
Suto, M. (2010). What works for people with BipolarDisorder ? Tips from the experts. Journal of Affective Disorders
, 76-84.
Sylvia, L. G. (2010). Exercise Treatment for Bipolar Disorder: Potential Mechanisms of Action Mediated through
Increased Neurogenesis and Decreased Allostatic Load. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics , 87-96.