Different types of medications can help control symptoms of bipolar disorder. Medications generally used to treat bipolar disorder include:
Mood stabilizers
Atypical antipsychotics
Antidepressants
Mood stabilizer drugs are typically prescribed to prevent mood swings. Getting full range of symptoms under control may require other drugs as well either short-term or long-term. Lithium is perhaps best-known of mood stabilizers, but newer drugs such as lamotrigene have been shown to cause fewer side effects while frequently obviating the need for antidepressant medication. Used alone, antidepressants can precipitate mania and may accelerate mood cycling.
Psychotherapy
psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for bipolar disorder. It can provide support, education, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Some psychotherapy treatments used to treat bipolar disorder include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Family-focused therapy
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
Psychoeducation
Work and relationship problems can be both cause and effect of bipolar episodes, making psychosocial treatment necessary. Studies show such treatment reduces the number of mood episodes patients experience. Psychotherapy is also valuable in teaching self-management skills, which help keep the everyday ups and downs from becoming full-blown episodes.
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