Bipolar disorder is a mental disease that causes both depression and mania symptoms in patients. According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, diagnosis of bipolar disorder is done with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, abbreviated as DSM-IV. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be managed through therapy and medication. According to the National Institutes of Health, three different types of medications are used for bipolar disorder.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bipolar disorder are divided into two different spectrums: depression and mania. Patients with depression have constant feelings of sadness, thoughts of death and suicide, withdrawal from others, lack of interest in activities, inappropriate feelings of guilt and self-hate. Patients with mania, on the other hand, have an elevated mood or irritable mood, participate in risky behavior, impulsively act and have little need for sleep. Patients with bipolar I disorder have more mania symptoms, while patients with bipolar II disorder have more depression symptoms.
Therapy
Therapy can be effective in treating both depression and mania symptoms. Therapists can help patients discover the cause of their depression, and eliminate those negative behaviors in their lives. In addition, therapy can help manic patients control some of their urges, and recognize their risky behavior.
Mood Stabilizers
According to the National Institutes of Health, mood stabilizers can help with the mania symptoms of bipolar disorder. Two types of mood stabilizers are used: lithium and anticonvulsants. Lithium salts were first approved for the treatment of mania in the 1970s; however, the National Institutes of Health notes that lithium can also be used to treat depression symptoms. Anticonvulsants that are used for bipolar disorder include oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), lamotrigine (Lamictal), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and valproic acid (Depakote).
Atypical Antipsychotics
Atypical antipsychotics, when combined with other bipolar disorder medications, can treat both depression and mania symptoms. Aripiprazole (Abilify), risperdone (Risperdol) and ziprasidone (Geodon) can be used for both types of symptoms. Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is specifically for severe and psychotic depression, while clozapine (Clorazil) is for patients who do not respond to mood stabilizers.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are a third type of medication that are used by bipolar disorder patients. However, the National Institutes of Health points out that when bipolar disorder patients use antidepressants alone, they can switch quickly from depression symptoms to mania symptoms.
