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Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a very serious mental problem in people which is attributed by extreme moods, mania on one side and a depressive on another. This problem leads to risky violent behaviour, splitting of relationships, pulling down career graphs and in extreme cases, it may take form of suicidal tendencies in the patient if it is left untreated.

A patient cannot tackle this mental illness on his own. He needs support and help from his family members, friends and the medical experts. Since it involves extreme mood changes, it becomes a prerequisite for the family members and friends to understand the gravity if the situation and understand and accept the patient with his problems.

Bipolar disorder is treated with mood-stabilizing drugs combined with psychotherapy. Medical treatment is primary to a bipolar disorder and the psychotherapy the patient receives helps him in gaining mental courage and strength to accept his own problems and behave rationally in the future. To treat the problem of frequent denial in the patients, psychotherapy plays a pivotal role in making these patient understand the need to continue the medication. A patient with bipolar disorder can be treated by making use of many therapies such as behavioural therapy, cognitive therapy and psychodynamic therapies including individual sessions, family sessions and group sessions. The involvement of the friends and family members is like the spine of the entire treatment program.

Many mood-stabilizing drugs are used for treating patients with bipolar disorder. Lithium carbonate is a very effective drug to reduce mania, as well as depressive symptoms. It is used to treat maniac moods but for avoiding depressive moods to occur, it is often given with antidepressants. Other effective drugs used for stabilizing the patient’s mood are carbamazepine and Depakote. These drugs can be used to treat the patients in combination with lithium carbonate or as it is. With newer scientific researches, newer drugs are also being used for this treatment according to the severity. Lamictal and Neurontin are the latest entries in the class of drugs that are effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

An antidepressant becomes necessary to be given to the patient during his extreme depressed mood. This antidepressant is often given in combination with a mood stabilizing drug. SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are specific drugs that are specific to serotonin, a chemical in the brain. SSRIs do not have many side effects so they have become a popular choice by the medical experts. Symbyax is an SSRI group antidepressant which is formed in conjunction with antipsychotic drugs. It is helpful in treating depression in a patient. Medical experts, to minimize the side effects, try to use minimal quantities of these drugs for treatment.

The ongoing psychotherapy of the patients, together with medicines and support from the loved ones, help them in recovering faster and responding better to the treatments given to him. By understanding the exact feeling of the patient, a psychiatrist can offer him appropriate counselling and therapies which prove to be of great help.

By: Ryan46

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