Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder where patients cycle between depression and mania, according to the National Institutes of Health. The treatment a patient needs to control her bipolar disorder symptoms is dependent on the type of bipolar disorder she has. If her symptoms tend to be more manic than depressive, her doctor will prescribe mania medication, and vice versa. However, therapy is another option for bipolar disorder patients who do not want to use medication only.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, there are four types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, bipolar disorder NOS and cyclothymia. Patients with bipolar I disorder have mania episodes, either an elevated mood plus three other symptoms or an irritable mood plus four other symptoms. Patients with bipolar II disorder have depression symptoms with interspersed episodes of normal mood or hypomania. Patients with bipolar disorder NOS have mood shifts that interfere in their lives; however, this type of bipolar disorder does not fit into the description of either bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder. Cyclothymia is a more mild form of bipolar disorder, where symptoms are less severe but still interfere in the patients' lives.
Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers, such as lithium salts and anticonvulsants, are effective in treating the mania symptoms of bipolar disorder. According to the National Institutes of Health, examples of anticonvulsants medications that work as mood stabilizers are valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegietol), lamotrigine (Lamictal) and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal).
Atypical Antipsychotics
Atypical antipsychotics, when combined with another type of medication, can treat both depression and mania in bipolar disorder. According to the National Institutes of Health, olanzapine, or Zyprexa, is used to treat severe or psychotic depression. Other antipsychotics include aripiprazole (Geodon), aripiprazole (Abilify), risperidone (Risperdal) and clozapine (Clorazil). Clozapine is recommended for patients who do no respond to lithium or anticonvulsants, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are a third medication option for treating bipolar disorder. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, bipolar disorder patients should not take antidepressants alone for treatment. In bipolar disorder, antidepressants can cause patients to rapidly switch from depression symptoms to mania symptoms.
Therapy
Therapy is a treatment option for bipolar disease patients who do not want to take medication. Working with a therapist, patients are able to identify and change the negative behaviors that occur with the depression symptoms. In addition, therapy can help curb manic urges, like impulse shopping or dangerous behavior.
