| It is a common question amongst bipolar sufferers and | | | | mental skills and memory, and even that their brains |
| their loved ones. What are non medication treatments | | | | were more active as well. They then did the crucial |
| for depression in bipolar? Are there any? Popular belief | | | | follow-up test: they divided a group of elders into two |
| is that bipolar disorder can only be controlled by a | | | | groups, one which participated in an aerobic exercise |
| lifetime regime of strong medication. The answer to | | | | program, and one which did not. They have found that |
| the question is a resounding yes. Several | | | | the group which exercised increased their brain size |
| non-medication approaches have now been shown to | | | | compared to the sedentary control group, in the brain |
| be of benefit when added to the conventional | | | | regions which are known to shrink when people have |
| medications for depression in bipolar. Mood stabilizer | | | | mood problems. . Extrapolating just slightly from these |
| tactics and therapies are now emerging and being | | | | results, we now have preliminary evidence that |
| slowly embraced by some mental health practitioners. | | | | exercise, like other effective antidepressants, can |
| Regulating daily schedules and patterns of sleep, using | | | | reverse brain shrinkage. Although it may be difficult for |
| light therapy and implementing regular exercise | | | | a depressed person to think about exercising, even a |
| programs are now included as treatments for some | | | | regular walk can have the desired effect. Most people, |
| bipolar patients. NON MEDICATION TREATMENTS | | | | however depressed, can still walk. Walking has the |
| FOR DEPRESSION IN BIPOLAR -Maintaining a regular | | | | absolute best record for easy access. The Harvard |
| daily schedule. One approach that is crucial for some | | | | Bipolar Program leader, Dr. Sachs, says "here's your |
| patients with bipolar disorder is to maintain a regular | | | | exercise program: go to the door, look at your watch. |
| daily schedule, especially regular patterns of sleep. One | | | | Walk 7.5 minutes in any direction, then turn around and |
| such therapy is organized around the daily schedule | | | | walk home. Do that 5 days a week at least." And |
| idea, in particular having a regular time to go to sleep, | | | | that's it. So the answer to the question "what at non |
| and a regular time to wake up and get out of bed. | | | | medication treatments for depression in bipolar" is |
| -Light Therapy. A recent study published in Canada | | | | simply that there are many. This article has covered |
| showed that approximately 100 patients with winter | | | | just a few. -Specialized Psychotherapies For Bipolar.In |
| affective depression were randomly assigned to | | | | April 2007 a major research program published their |
| Prozac or a standard light box. There was equal | | | | results showing that when the three psychotherapies |
| improvement in both groups, with the light box | | | | listed below were added to mood stabilizer treatment |
| marginally faster in lowering depression scores. This | | | | for bipolar patients experiencing significant depression, |
| means that the light therapy is as good as the | | | | the patients recovered more quickly and more were |
| standard antidepressant approach, but has fewer side | | | | likely to stay well. - Bipolar-specific cognitive behavioral |
| effects and less overall risk. If you're not familiar with | | | | therapy - Interpersonal therapy with social rhythm |
| light therapy, basically one sits in front of a box the | | | | therapy - Family-focused therapy (for patients with |
| size of a small suitcase (smaller ones now available) | | | | family who could join in treatment) The problem is |
| which emits a lot of light, for about 30 minutes to start, | | | | finding a therapist who can provide one of these |
| and as little as 15 minutes or less later to stay well | | | | treatments. Currently, these psychotherapies are |
| through the winter. -Regular Exercise. The data | | | | primarily found in large treatment programs that have |
| showing that exercise can actually treat depression | | | | adopted one or more of the new methods. For those |
| has been pretty good for a long while. It is well | | | | interested in sourcing a sympathetic therapist, the |
| documented that depression can cause brain | | | | internet is a good place to start. There is no doubt that |
| shrinkage, and that effective treatments can stop and | | | | the non medication treatments for depression in bipolar |
| at least partially reverse that shrinkage. A recent study | | | | are making a difference to the quality of life for some |
| by a research team at the University of Illinois | | | | bipolar sufferers. They are able to wean off high |
| compared people with an average age of 67 who | | | | doses of antidepressants, and also benefit from the |
| were physically active to those who were less active. | | | | positive side effects of good sleep patterns, exercise |
| The results showed that the active elders had better | | | | and light therapy. |