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Bipolar Disorder - Other Treatment

Almost all people who have bipolar disorder need medicine. But counseling is also important to help you cope with work and relationship struggles related to your illness.

Other Treatment Choices

Types of counseling used to treat bipolar disorder include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of counseling aimed at teaching you how to become healthier by modifying certain thought and behavior patterns. It is based on the theory that thought and behavior can affect a person's symptoms and be an obstacle to recovery.
Interpersonal therapy, which focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems by discussing grief and loss, role disputes in relationships, and relationship transitions.
Problem solving, a brief, focused form of cognitive therapy used to treat depression. It focuses on specific problems and how you can solve them.
Family therapy, a type of counseling used to help families deal with a stressful situation or a life-changing event. In family therapy, each person can express any concerns and fears about how the problem affects the person who has bipolar disorder and the family as a whole.

In some cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option. In this procedure, brief electrical stimulation to the brain is given through electrodes placed on the head. The stimulation produces a short seizure that is thought to balance brain chemicals.

Complementary therapy

Omega-3 fatty acids have been getting some attention as a possible complementary treatment for bipolar disorder. But more research is needed to prove the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in treating this condition.^1,¹⁰

What To Think About

Bipolar disorder: Preventing manic episodes

Establish a long-term relationship with a counselor you like. The counselor will help you recognize personality changes that show when you are moving into a mood episode. Getting early treatment can reduce the length of the mood episode.

Bipolar disorder also affects family members. They need to understand the disorder and how to help you cope.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 04, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.