| Australian researchers have discovered a new | | | | therapy sessions focused on teaching the participants |
| procedure which has let bipolar patients control their | | | | to recognize the common symptoms that might trigger |
| mood swings. In studies, so far, they have managed to | | | | a depressive or manic episode. Symptoms such |
| cut the number of manic attacks that their patients | | | | asinsomnia, a significant change in appetite, trouble |
| suffer, by half. | | | | concentrating, listlessness or tiredness, and other |
| Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood | | | | symptoms that are commonly recognized as indicating |
| swings from periods of excitability to periods of | | | | a bipolar event might be taking place. |
| depression and back again. Bipolar 1 disorder affects | | | | The working theory behind the study is that if a bipolar |
| over two million U.S. citizens every year. In many | | | | sufferer is aware of an impending episode, he has the |
| people, the mood swings can be so great that it | | | | chance to do something about it. And the theory, in this |
| prevents them from being able to live a normal life. | | | | case, proved to be correct. At the end of the study, |
| This roller coaster of emotions not only affects them, | | | | the 42 patients taking the therapy, had only 50% of |
| but it affects their friends and family as well. | | | | the manic or depressive episodes of the 42 patients |
| The new procedure basically involves adding therapy | | | | that were treated with medication alone. |
| to the bipolar treatments that the patients normally | | | | The study effectively demonstrates that therapy |
| receive. In reality, therapy is not new as many | | | | which emphasizes and teaches the patient how to |
| physicians already believe that the most effective | | | | plan his life, as much as possible, around regular daily |
| treatment for bipolar disease is to use medication in | | | | activities and stable relationships, can help them to |
| combination with prescriptions medication. But belief | | | | suffer less manic/depressive attacks and to recover |
| does not equal proof. | | | | faster from the ones that they do experience. |
| Researchers from the Mental Health Research | | | | Unfortunately, long-term therapy is not cheap and |
| Institute of Victoria (MHRI) located in Melbourne, | | | | many insurance companies will either not cover it or |
| Australia, and is Australia's largest independent | | | | cover only a portion of it. Hopefully, studies like this will |
| psychiatric research center, have gone on record as | | | | help to push the insurance companies into recognizing |
| believing that this study is the first one that proves | | | | that therapy is a valid and useful treatment for bipolar |
| bipolar patients can control their mania. The exciting | | | | disease and may even help to decrease their long |
| impact of the Australian study is that it gives credence | | | | term costs. |
| to the value of psychotherapy in treating bipolar illness. | | | | This study is also important and encouraging for many |
| The Melbourne study consisted of 84 bipolar patients. | | | | sufferers who don't want to be entirely dependent on |
| Half of the patients were given medication only. The | | | | prescription medication. It gives them a sense of hope |
| other half were give the same medication but in | | | | that they can exert a portion of control over their lives |
| addition attended weekly therapy sessions. The | | | | that up until now has been lacking. |