Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) is an illness that causes extreme mood changes that alternate between manic episodes of abnormally high energy and the extreme lows of depression. Bipolar disorder may cause behavior so severe that you may not be able to function at work, in family or social situations, or in relationships with others. Some people with bipolar disorder become suicidal. 

     The cause of bipolar disorder is not completely understood, but the disorder runs in families and may also be affected by your living environment or family situation. An imbalance of chemicals in the brain is another possible cause. During a manic episode, you may be abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable for a week or more. You may spend a lot of money, get involved in dangerous activities, and sleep very little. After a manic episode, you may return to normal, but your mood may swing in the opposite direction to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. When you are depressed, you may have trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; have changes in your eating and sleeping habits; and lose interest in things you once enjoyed. 

     The mood changes of bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may develop gradually over several days or weeks, or come on suddenly within minutes or hours. The manic or depressive episodes may only last a few hours or for several months Because it has many phases and symptoms, bipolar disorder is complex and hard to diagnose. 

     Your physician or therapist will ask detailed questions about what kind of symptoms you have and how long they last. In order to be diagnosed as bipolar, you must have had a manic episode. During this time, you must have had three or more specific symptoms of mania, such as needing less sleep, being more talkative, behaving wildly or irresponsibly in activities that could have serious outcomes, or feeling as if your thoughts are racing. 

     If a patient presents with symptoms of depression and doesn't remember the manic episode he/she had experienced many years ago, a misdiagnosis of depression may result. This could become a problem because some anti depressants such as Prozac may trigger a manic episode. I am a psychologist and thus not qualified to prescribe medication. I am presenting the following information to be helpful. It is highly recommended that you see a psychiatrist to determine the best choice of medicine for you, based on your symptoms, medical history etc. It would not be wise to have a preconceived idea of what medication is best for you based on drug company commercials or what worked for a friend.

     Bipolar disorder is mainly treated with medications to manage manic episodes and periods of depression. Your doctor may try several medications before finding the right combination to manage your symptoms long-term. Medications include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Antidepressants are used carefully for episodes of depression, because they cause some people to cycle into a manic phase. Several medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. It may take time and several attempts at using different medications to find the treatment that works best for you.

     The most common medications used to treat bipolar disorder are: 

          Mood Stabilizers, such as Lithium Carbonate. Anticonvulsants, such as valproate sodium (Depakene Syrup), divalproex (Depakote), and carbamazepine (Tegretol) are also considered mood stabilizers.

          Valproate and divalproex are used to treat manic episodes. The anticonvulsant lamotrigine was recently approved for the long-term maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder and may be helpful for depression.

          People with extreme cases of mania may be hospitalized to protect them from risky behaviors, such as driving recklessly or having delusions. During a severe bout of depression, hospitalization may be necessary to prevent the person from committing suicide.

          Therapy is very important in treating an individual with Bipolar Disorder.

     The following discusses types of therapy. 

          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, 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 their loved one and the family as a whole.