Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Handling bipolar is aims to relieve the symptoms that arise, but treatment will require a long time. Therefore it requires adherence from the patient and supervision from family and doctor. Management of bipolar disorder can be done by administering drugs and psychotherapy. To determine the right method, patients are advised to consult directly with the doctor or mental health issues facilities.

There are several types of drugs that can be used to relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder, and each has a different function. Patients are advised to consult a doctor first before using drugs. Some medications commonly used to relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

Mood stabilizers, such as lithium, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine.
Anticonvulsants, such as valproic acid.
Antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone.
Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, escitalopram, and sertraline.

The doctor can also combine 2 or more types of drugs, especially if the patient’s symptoms change very quickly. The use and discontinuation of the drug must be as directed by a doctor. The use of drugs that are not in accordance with the patient’s condition, has the potential to cause side effects and actually endanger the patient.

– Psychotherapy
There are several methods of a psychotherapy that can be used to relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder. To determine the right method, patients are advised to consult with their doctor first. The following psychotherapy methods are commonly used to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder:

Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT)
IPSRT is a method that focuses on the stability of the rhythm of daily activities, such as time to sleep, wake up, to eat. The regular rhythm of the activity can help patients to control the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
With CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy, the doctor will help patients detect things that can trigger the appearance of symptoms of bipolar disorder so that it can be replaced with something positive.