Adolescent Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Overview

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that can affect both adults and adolescents. According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, "pediatric bipolar disorder" was not part of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV, when it came out in 1994; however, after ten years, it was added as its own disorder. Adolescent bipolar disorder patients have the same symptoms as adult patients, and can be afflicted with the same types of bipolar disorder. However, weaker forms of bipolar disorder can develop into more severe bipolar disorder when the adolescent reaches adulthood. Treatment for adolescent bipolar disorder includes medication and psychotherapy, though close supervision is necessary.

Mania and Depression

Mania is a higher than normal mood. Symptoms of mania include euphoria, hallucinations, psychosis, grandiosity, racing thoughts, excessive talking, easily distracted, irritability, poor judgment and doing risky activities. Hypomania is a lesser form of mania. Depression is on the opposite spectrum. Symptoms include being withdrawn from other people and activities, sleeping difficulties, thoughts of suicide and death, feelings of guilt, self-hate and sadness.

Mood Stabilizers

According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, medication can be used to treat bipolar disorder in adolescents. However, the Foundation notes that parents and doctors must monitor adolescents closely when they are on these medications. According to the National Institutes of Health, mood stabilizers, like lithium and anticonvulsants, are effective in treating the symptoms of mania. Examples of anticonvulsants that can be used for adolescent bipolar disorder include valproic acid, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine.

Atypical Antipsychotics

Atypical antipsychotics, when used with another medication, can treat both mania and depression. Olazapine is used for severe or psychotic depressive symptoms. Other forms of atypical antipsychotics include aripiprazole, risperidone and ziprasidone. In addition, clozapine is given to patients who do not respond to lithium or anticonvulsants, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Antidepressants

While antidepressants are used, they should not be used alone. Sole antidepressant use by a bipolar disorder patient can cause rapid changes from depression to mania. In addition, adolescents are at a higher risk of suicide thoughts when they start to use antidepressants.

Psychotherapy

For parents who do not want to give their adolescent children medication, psychotherapy is another option. By working with a therapist, the patient can identify negative behavior that she has with depression. Psychotherapy can also help with mania: therapy can help curb some of the dangerous behavior that can occur with mania. Part of psychotherapy includes education for the adolescent's family, which can help them adapt to the adolescent's symptoms and needs. According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, psychotherapy "might not be effective until mood stabilization occurs. An unstable child is unlikely to be able to absorb the concepts of therapy."