| Bipolar disorder treatment is not new. Men of medicine | | | | antidepressants can trigger manic episodes or |
| were treating for it before they even knew what it | | | | rapid-cycling. If an antidepressant must be used, there |
| was. Yet every year new medications and | | | | are certain ones which are less likely to cause these |
| methodologies are added to the bipolar disorder | | | | problems. One of these is bupropion. |
| treatment. | | | | The treatment of psychotic symptoms has evolved |
| Although first recognized in the second century A.D., | | | | quickly in modern times. At first, there were powerful |
| bipolar disorder has struggled as a diagnosis to | | | | anti-psychotics. The first of these were said to put the |
| become accepted. Bipolar disorder treatment up to | | | | mind in a "mental strait-jacket". They virtually stopped |
| and through the 1960's, if any, was usually comprised | | | | all thought. They also had an intense side effects |
| of either locking the patient away or leaving him or her | | | | known as tardive dyskinesia. This causes permanent |
| to fend for him or herself. | | | | neurological damages. Researchers, then were trying |
| In the 1970's manic-depression, as it was then called, | | | | to find alternatives that would cause less, or even no, |
| began to become seen as an accepted diagnosis and | | | | damage in bipolar disorder treatment. |
| therefore, bipolar disorder treatment began in earnest. | | | | Other anti-psychotics were tried, and found to have |
| At that time, laws were enacted and standards set to | | | | fewer neurological effects. The newest of these |
| help those who sought bipolar disorder treatment. | | | | medications are actually relatively safe when used as |
| In bipolar disorder treatment, the first thought may be | | | | prescribed. They are also very helpful in bipolar |
| the use of medications. They are, actually, a powerful | | | | disorder treatment both in psychotic episodes and |
| tool in the management of the disorder. One only | | | | even in simple mania. Some of the newer ones are |
| needs look at the vast array of medications that is | | | | risperidone and olanzapine. |
| available to see that medication has been extensively | | | | Talk therapy is also used in bipolar disorder treatment. |
| used in bipolar disorder treatment. | | | | It can be useful to help a person to recognize and deal |
| Lithium carbonate was the first major breakthrough in | | | | with symptoms of the disorder. Cognitive behavioral |
| the medications for bipolar disorder treatment. It | | | | therapy can help a person to identify destructive |
| belongs to a class of medications called "mood | | | | patterns of thinking and behavior, and help him or her |
| stabilizers". These medications help to prevent or ease | | | | to act in ways that will have a positive influence on his |
| manic episodes. They also help to ward off the | | | | or her disease process. |
| extremes of depression, such as suicide. | | | | Other types of talk therapy are used in bipolar disorder |
| Bipolar disorder treatment may also include the use of | | | | treatment to help a person to deal with the |
| other mood stabilizers that were originally used as | | | | devastating consequences of the illness and to |
| anticonvulsants. These have been shown to have a | | | | explore the history of that person's disease. Talk |
| great effect on mood. Some of these, such as | | | | therapy has been used successfully in bipolar disorder |
| valproic acid and carbamazepine, are tried and true. | | | | treatment. |
| Lamotrigine, gabapentin, and topiramate have also | | | | All of these components constitute a lifelong process. |
| been used for this purpose but not conclusively proven | | | | Medication and talk therapy can contribute to effective |
| effective. | | | | bipolar disorder treatment today. No one knows what |
| Caution must be taken in the use of antidepressant | | | | science will bring to bipolar disorder treatment in the |
| therapy as a part of bipolar disorder treatment. Mood | | | | future. |
| stabilizers are usually tried first, because | | | | |