Medication usually plays an important role in
the treatment of bipolar disorder, especially if episodes are
severe. In the initial stages of the illness, medication helps to
reduce the symptoms.
The choice of medication can depend upon the
type of episode (manic or depressed). Everyone is different and so
the type of medication that is recommended will also be
The three main types of medication that are
- antipsychotic medication: risperidone,
olanzapine and aripiprazole are types of antipsychotics.
- mood stabilizers: Lithium is a type of mood
- antidepressants: fluoxetine is a type
It is important that medications are not taken
only when the problems are serious. If your child has had more than
one severe episode of illness, staying on medication is important
to reduce the risk of further episodes.
Medication may be needed for months or even
years. Some people may, under medical supervision, be able to stop
their medication when they have recovered and have felt well for a
They may need physical examinations and tests
(like blood test) before starting or while on medication. It is
important that if prescribed medication, you are regularly seen by
your doctor or psychiatrist.
Side-effects of the medication can occur, some
of which are quite serious. The psychiatrist will be able to advise
about what they are and about what can be done to help. The risk of
side-effects needs to be balanced against the risk of the damaging
effects of the illness on a person's life.
No young person should be taking medication
unless they are reviewed by a health professional regularly. This
is to monitor the dose of the drug and to check for
Talking treatments (also known as
It is crucial that drug treatments are
combined with practical help for the young person and their
Help with understanding the illness (psycho
It is very important that the young person
with bipolar disorder and their family are helped to understand the
condition, how best to cope and what to do to reduce the chances of
The young person and their family may notice
particular ‘triggers’ to their episodes and/or early warning signs
that an episode may be starting - being aware of these can help
reduce the chance of episodes occurring, and getting help in the
earliest stages of an episode can stop it from escalating.
Stress at home can worsen the situation and
can even trigger an episode of the illness. Talking therapy in
which the whole family is helped to find ways of reducing stress,
solving problems and communicating more effectively has been shown
to help young people with BD get better, and stay well.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
This is another type of talking therapy in
which the young person, sometimes with their family, learns to
understand the links between their feelings and thoughts and how
this affects their behaviour.
Some young people may need to go into hospital
for intensive support if the symptoms are severe.
It is important for the young person to
recognise that they are not alone and to keep up hope.
Many people only have a few mood swings and
then the problem goes away. For others, it becomes a lifelong
pattern which they learn to live with and manage.
An episode of bipolar disorder can interfere
with education because it is difficult to learn when they are
unwell. An important part of recovery is to begin to plan returning
to education or to think about work.