| Most people with bipolar disorder can be | | | | Psychotherapy helps provide strategies for |
| helped - but a psychiatrist or psychologist | | | | managing stress and coping with suspicions. |
| should first diagnose the disorder. Failure | | | | Basic education about the nature of the |
| to diagnose and treat this disorder can prove | | | | disorder also helps to understand ones |
| fatal. Sometimes undiagnosed bipolar disorder | | | | behavior. Doctors may use electroconvulsive |
| patient end up in a psychiatric hospital or | | | | therapy for treatment mainly for people who |
| residential treatment centers and may attempt | | | | may have episodes of depression associated |
| suicide. | | | | with suicidal tendencies or in people whose |
| | | | medication has proved to be ineffective. |
| Children and teens with bipolar disorder do | | | | |
| not usually show the same patterns of | | | | In this treatment electrodes are taped to the |
| behavior as adults who have a similar | | | | patient's head and he is anesthetized. After |
| condition. A mental health professional has | | | | a muscle relaxant is injected, a small amount |
| to observe a teen's behavior carefully before | | | | of electrical current is passed through the |
| making a diagnosis. For treatment of this | | | | brain for less than a second. This current |
| disorder a complete history of the person's | | | | produces a brain seizure, but because of the |
| past and present experiences is very | | | | muscle relaxants the body remains calm. This |
| essential. Family members and friends should | | | | therapy profoundly affects the brain's |
| provide helpful insights into the person's | | | | metabolism and blood flow to various areas of |
| behavior, and the doctor may also want a teen | | | | the brain is rejuvenated. This therapy is |
| to have a medical exam to rule out other | | | | often highly effective in the treatment of |
| conditions. | | | | bipolar disorders. |
| | | | |
| Medication and psychotherapy are known to be | | | | Doctors sometimes use antidepressant |
| effective treatments for bipolar disorder. | | | | medications to treat the depression |
| Occasionally, doctors may also use | | | | associated with bipolar disorders. |
| electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). | | | | Additionally, taking medications as |
| Psychotherapy is often used simultaneously | | | | prescribed, reporting any changes in |
| with medications. Detecting the patterns | | | | functions and participating in therapy are |
| leading up to episodes of bipolar disorder | | | | the keys to living a successful life. In |
| and trying to identify triggers for these | | | | addition to treatment, making a few lifestyle |
| episodes is very important. Patterns may | | | | changes like reducing stress, eating well and |
| include use of medications or anything that | | | | getting enough sleep and exercise can help a |
| happens physically or emotionally. | | | | person cope with this condition. |
| | | | |