Bipolar disorder

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Bipolar disorder

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Important skills include:

• Coping with symptoms that are present even while taking medications
• Learning a healthy lifestyle, including getting enough sleep and staying away from recreational drugs
• Learning to take medications correctly and how to manage side effects
• Learning to watch for the return of symptoms, and knowing what to do when they return
• Family members and caregivers are very important in the treatment of bipolar disorder. They can help patients find the right support services, and make sure the patient takes medication correctly.

Getting enough sleep is very important in bipolar disorder. A lack of sleep can trigger a manic episode. Therapy may be helpful during the depressive phase. Joining a support group may help bipolar disorder patients and their loved ones.

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• A patient with bipolar disorder cannot always tell the doctor about the state of the illness. Patients often have trouble recognizing their own manic symptoms.
• Changes in mood with bipolar disorder are not predictable. It it is sometimes hard to tell whether a patient is responding to treatment or naturally coming out of a bipolar phase.
• Treatments for children and the elderly are not well-studied.

Mood-stabilizing medication can help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, patients often need help and support to take medicine properly and to make sure that mania and depression are treated as early as possible.

Some people stop taking the medication as soon as they feel better or because the mania feels good. Stopping medication can cause serious problems.

Suicide is a very real risk during both mania and depression. People with bipolar disorder or think or talk about suicide need immediate emergency attention.

Stopping medication or taking it the wrong way can cause your symptoms to come back, and lead to the following complications:

• Alcohol and/or drug abuse
• Problems with relationships, work, and finances
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

This illness is hard to treat. Patients, their friends, and family must know the risks of not treating bipolar disorder.

Call your health provider or an emergency number right way if:

• You are having thoughts of death or suicide
• You are experiencing severe symptoms of depression or mania
• You have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and your symptoms have returned or you are having any new symptoms

Review Date: 03/29/2011
Reviewed By: Fred K. Berger, MD, Addiction and Forensic Psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).