Bipolar Disorder Treatment - 5 Clinical Procedures And 7 Effective Drugs

It is usually women who are associated as having mood swings as they are said to unpredictable, unlike men. Men can exhibit mood swings, although it may not be as noticeable. We all accept that everyone has the occasional mood swing which is normal in life. If you are having unexplained changes in mood swings or emotions which are out of proportion, it is time for you to think about consulting your doctor or a psychiatrist.

'Consulting with a psychiatrist' is what most people do not like to hear, or choose to ignore. Anyone seeing a professional such as a psychiatrist is thought to have a mental illness, but seeing one could be the answer to your problems which can be addressed.

Once you have consulted a doctor or a psychiatrist, they can evaluate you and your condition. They can then determine how extensive your disorder is so that they can prescribe the correct medicine and suitable treatment for yourself. This is so that your condition can be stabilised.

Having been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, you will have get used to this long term illness. It won't just disappear - you have to deal with the episodes that you will experience from one day to the next. It is frightening at first but once you have learnt to accept it, you can begin to take control again, even though there is no cure. Medication will help to normalise your life again so that you can cope.

The onset of Bipolar Disorder usually starts in adolescence or the early 20's, and is found to be complex. It could be a few years before the precise diagnosis is recognised. A bipolar patient will find this a disadvantage as they cannot get the right medication or treatment until it is realised.

Diagnosing and treating this disorder is done by a psychiatrist or psychologist. A person is first interviewed to find out more about them, with a clinical investigation which will determine their mental status, and the type of bipolar symptoms the patient is experiencing. The clinical procedures that need to be carried out are as follows:

1. MCMI III
2. MMPI II
3. ISS
4. YMRS
5. SRMI

These tests can either be done in outpatients department or in the hospital, and are either written tests or verbal ones. The DSM-IV provides the guidelines for diagnosing all types of Mental Illnesses and Bipolar Disorder. Guidelines show that Bipolar Disorder is when a person has an elevated mood with unusual irritability over a week with also at least three mania symptoms. Unless a person is just irritable the requirement will be at least four symptoms.

The symptoms in adolescents and children both differ. Children usually exhibit features which seem psychotic and often mistakenly diagnosed as schizophrenia. Rather than being elated, they usually exhibit more aggression and irritability, which are ongoing symptoms that are chronic, whereas adults have episodes of these occurrences.

To treat Bipolar Disorder, a patient is usually given medications. Mood stabilisers are administered and combined with anticonvulsants, antidepressants and antipsychotics. By giving these medications bipolar episodes are regulated.


Medications

1. Carbamazepine - An anticonvulsant which is prescribed together with mood stabilisers. This medicine may be prescribed if a person isn't responding well to lithium therapy.

2. Electroconvulsive Therapy - If medications have been unsuccessful in treating depression in bipolar, this therapy is very successful. Anaesthesia and a muscle relaxant is given when the treatment to avoid the risk of convulsions.

3. Lithium - The most widely used prescribed medication as it is the oldest for bipolar disorder, but it isn't recommended for patients that have mixed mania. Lithium is sometimes used in combination with benzodiazepines or neuroleptics.

4. MAOIs - This drug helps to block the action of monoamine oxidase. You should avoid eating foods that contain a huge amount of tyramine, so that you don't get any undesireable side effects.

5. Neuroleptics - These are used to control symptoms of mania with drugs such as chlorpromazine and haloperidol. Patients need to be cautious of the severe side effects that neuroleptics have.

6. SSRIs - These help to regulate depression and examples are flouxetine, paroxetine and sertraline.

7. Valproate - For those that have rapid cycles of bipolar, this medication has proven to be effective. It is used on its own or with other drugs.


Antidepressants are given short term as with some patients they can stimulate mania episodes.

Bipolar Disorder is said to be biological, a claim made by many experts in the field, for which therapy is required. They offer Counselling and Psychotherapy alongside medications which are necessary to control the illness. Patients and families are helped to gain a better understanding and the importance of taking medications regularly to cut down on the risk of suicide.

Once your condition is controlled by and stabilised by medications, you should continue to take them to avoid any relapse. Bipolar Disorder will be with you throughout your life, so medication and treatment is paramount.