| Bipolar disorder, known by many as manic depression, | | | | disorder through CBT is to develop a treatment |
| is a mental illness caused by a combination of factors, | | | | contract with the patient. This is a treatment plan |
| including neurological, biological, emotional, and | | | | that the patient agrees to follow, and also involves |
| environmental factors. It is most commonly described | | | | the patient's promise to complete all homework |
| as mood cycling or mood swings, in which the patient | | | | assignments and take any prescribed medication as |
| cycles through moods of depression, mania, and | | | | directed. Because the success of CBT depends |
| normal behavior. | | | | largely on the patient's responsibility and desire to |
| There are many treatment options for bipolar | | | | cope with bipolar disorder, this is an important first |
| disorder. The most common treatment for bipolar | | | | step to successful treatment. |
| disorder includes a combination of medication and | | | | The second step to successful treatment of bipolar |
| therapy. However, some patients are not candidates | | | | disorder through CBT is to monitor and grade moods. |
| for medication treatment. Patients that have a | | | | This is done with various worksheets that the |
| history of drug abuse, for instance, should in most | | | | therapist gives the patient. The patient may record |
| cases not be placed on medication for bipolar | | | | their mood for the day, how many hours they have |
| disorder, as the risk for abuse is too great. | | | | slept, their level of anxiety, and their level of |
| Additionally, patients may not have a case of bipolar | | | | irritability. Those with type two bipolar disorder may |
| disorder severe enough to warrant medication. Other | | | | need to record their mood two or more times per |
| patients may choose to avoid the route of | | | | day, as their moods cycle more often. |
| medication until it becomes absolutely necessary. | | | | Understanding the pattern to mood cycling can help |
| In response to these special cases in which | | | | the patient then undergo the next step to CBT |
| medication treatment is not a viable option for bipolar | | | | treatment for bipolar disorder. This step of CBT for |
| disorder, that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, | | | | treatment of bipolar disorder requires the patient to |
| was developed. CBT is a type of therapy that assists | | | | do homework in the form of worksheets and reading |
| patients in recognizing triggers and causes for their | | | | that will help the patient to understand how their |
| manic and depressive states. The patient can then | | | | thoughts effect their emotions. By understanding |
| learn techniques to avoid these triggers, and cope | | | | these things, the patient will be able to then practice |
| with symptoms during episodes. Seventy percent of | | | | altering their thoughts in a rational way to make |
| bipolar disorder type one patients that undergo CBT | | | | emotions more rational as well, decreasing the |
| experience one or fewer episodes within four years | | | | number and severity of depressive and manic |
| of starting the CBT treatment. | | | | episodes. |
| There are two main goals that are met by using CBT | | | | The next step to CBT treatment for bipolar disorder |
| as treatment for bipolar disorder. The first goal is to | | | | is to learn how to recognize triggers. Triggers are the |
| recognize manic episodes before they become | | | | thoughts, emotions, situations, times of year, events, |
| uncontrollable, and consciously change how they | | | | or environments that set off a depressive or manic |
| react to the episode. The second goal is to learn | | | | episode. By learning how to understand and recognize |
| techniques, reactions, thoughts, and behaviors that | | | | their triggers, the patient can then learn to avoid the |
| can help to offset depression. These goals are | | | | triggers entirely, thereby decreasing the number and |
| realized through various techniques and activities | | | | severity of depressive and manic episodes. |
| prescribed by the therapist. With CBT, the treatment | | | | Overall, CBT is a viable and quite successful |
| of bipolar disorder rests with the patient, who is | | | | treatment for bipolar disorder, and can be a healthy |
| given homework in the form of exercises and | | | | alternative to medication in some cases. If you feel |
| reading, which helps them to understand their | | | | you may be a candidate for CBT, you should contact |
| condition and learn methods to cope with it. | | | | your doctor or therapist to discuss this and other |
| The first step to successful treatment of bipolar | | | | bipolar disorder treatment options. |