Worldwide, bipolar affective disorder is the sixth most common cause for disability, Gary Sachs, M.D., wrote in the April 2007 issue of “The New England Journal of Medicine.” People who suffer from this disorder will have periods where they feel very depressed, then times where they are highly excitable. Drugs and therapy are some of the treatments available for biopolar affective disorder.
Lithium
During the middle of the 19th century, lithium was used to treat gout. In 1949, it became a treatment for bipolar affective disorder. Pharmacologists do not completely understand how lithium treats the disease. They do know it interferes with several enzymes, proteins that the cells use to speed up the time that a process takes. The interference by lithium means fewer neurotransmitters, chemicals the nerves use to send signals, are released.
Atypical Antipsychotics
Atypical antipsychotic drugs manage the psychosis of bipolar disorder, when people are not able to recognize reality. These medications are called "atypical” because they have very little side effects, as explained by Herbert Meltzer, M.D., in “Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry.” Atypical antipsychotic drugs block the receptors that release dopamine and serotonin, too much of which can lead to psychosis. Examples of atypical antipsychotic medication include aripiprazole, ziprasidone, quetiapine, olanzapine and risperidone.
Anticonvulsants
Anticonvulsants are medications that treat seizures. Some anticonvulsants used for bipolar affective disorder include lamotrigine, carbamazepine and valproate. Similar to lithium, pharmacologists do not yet understand how the anticonvulsants treat bipolar disorder. They hypothesize that it may involve cells sending signals and a substance called gamma-aminobutyric acid, also known as GABA, the main chemical that inhibits signals in the brain.
Counseling and Support
That counseling and support is an important part of treatment in bipolar affective disorder. Both individual and group therapy helps people handle problems and learn about their disorder, the need for treatment and the need to avoid risky behavior patterns, alcohol and illicit drugs.
References
- “Basic & Clinical Pharmacology”; Bertram Katzung, M.D., Ph.D., Susan Masters, Ph.D., Anthony Trevor, Ph.D.; 2009
- “Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry”; Michael Ebert, M.D., Peter Loosen, M.D., Ph.D., Barry Nurcombe, M.D., James Leckman, M.D.; 2008
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Bipolar Disorder
- The New England Journal of Medicine: Effectiveness of Adjunctive Antidepressant Treatment for Bipolar Depression
