Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
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“For people suffering from a mood disorder, the outlook has never been better.
Effective therapies, both pharmacological and behavioral, can help them recover from
potentially devastating episodes of depression or mania and prevent possible relapses.”
(Breaking Ground, Breaking Through, The Strategic Plan for Mood Disorders Research of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2003), Page 75.
Not every person with bipolar disorder will require psychotherapy (otherwise known as cognitive, cognitive-behavioral or psychosocial treatment). Adding psychotherapy to your medication regimen should be considered if you are having difficulty remaining stable and experience significant breakthroughs of hypomania or depression even while on medication. In an excellent self-help book, The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know, Dr. David Miklowitz has summarized the potential goals for psychotherapy as follows:
Improves medication compliance
Assists in identifying stress-related triggers
Develops self-management skills and coping strategies
Helps maintain stable “social rhythms” and lifestyle
Addresses the long-term impact of the illness on family members, spouses and friends
Helps “make sense” of the illness
Discusses planning and strategies to keep stable, given vulnerability to future episodes
Helps acceptance of a long-term medication regimen
(Adapted in part from Miklowitz (2002) table on page 122)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that teaches people specific cognitive and behavioral skills to help them control and even prevent serious mood swings. CBT involves a structured systematic approach in which clients are taught specific skills and strategies to address overly positive or negative moods that may escalate into episodes of depression or mania. For example, clients in a hypomanic or manic state typically underestimate the risks and negative consequences of their actions. The therapist works collaboratively to help the client challenge overly positive thoughts (“Everything will turn out fine” “I feel lucky”; “I can’t go wrong”) and evaluate possible negative outcomes and to reduce impulsive behaviors with a high risk of harmful consequences. The therapist also helps clients recognize and address environmental stressors (major life changes, relationship problems, over-stimulating conflictual situations, etc) that may exacerbate their mood swings. CBT strategies may require a great deal of practice, individualized attention and encouragement. However, once clients learn that they can manage mood swings more effectively, their sense of self-esteem and confidence typically improves, and they are more likely to apply their newly learned skills in the future.
Many people use these cognitive skills on a daily basis to cope with the stresses and strains of daily living, but they are often applied so naturally and easily that we simply have little awareness that we have done so. These mood management skills or techniques can be taught effectively even to clients who have had very serious histories of hospitalization and long-term bipolar illness.
1. Learn how to detect subtle changes in your mood, and pay attention to your mood on a daily basis.
Mood changes almost always occur as a result of specific events in your life, or thoughts that you are having. Being able to identify the connection between moods, events and thoughts is the first step in getting better. Being effective in controlling your mood is somewhat like using a road map to get to your destination. Unless you know your current location on the road map, it will not help you reach your destination. By carefully monitoring and identifying changes in your mood, you will know where you are on your emotional map and this can be the beginning of getting to your destination- mood stability.
2. Learn how to monitor your thoughts carefully and gain a perspective.
People who have severe mood swings may tend to have automatic negative or positive thoughts that do not reflect an accurate, adaptive or realistic appraisal, of specific situations. For example: John goes to a social gathering of a club he has just joined. No one talks to him, and he begins to feel anxious and a little sad, and soon he is feeling depressed, hopeless and wants to leave the situation. He thinks, “I am being ignored.” “It’s because I don’t know how to talk to people.” “This is why I never have friends.” “I’m totally ineffective.” “No one here likes me. I’m a wallflower.”
John’s negative thoughts may have been distorted. These negative thoughts contributed to his negative mood, which in turn gave momentum to his negative thinking. This leads to even more negative thoughts, such as labeling himself a “wallflower”. These types of negative thoughts may be habitual or automatic and are accepted as true and accurate with little or no questioning on John’s part. Had he been more aware of this thought process, he might have questioned some of these negative thoughts. He might have asked himself, “Wait a minute! Where’s the evidence for these thoughts? Maybe they’re not ignoring me. They just don’t know me yet. People who know me don’t ignore me. I do have friends.” Thinking about situations in a different way tends to interrupt negative thinking, sets the stage for a more positive approach to coping with the situation and leads to an improvement in mood.
3. Learn to identify early warning signs of the illness.
The best time to address negative or overly positive changes in mood is before your mood shift gains momentum. Often people don’t pay attention to the early changes that could alert them to the upcoming episode. They may begin to notice that there is a problem only after their functioning becomes impaired, and at that point it is more difficult to get control over their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
4. Have family members or significant trusted others learn to identify your early warning signs.
Other people may be able to detect your mood changes even before you do, which will enable them to give you feedback that a possible episode is about to occur. This also helps family members to remember that the individual’s behavioral difficulties are due to a disorder and not to be taken personally.
5. Develop and write down a personal coping plan.
Begin to keep track of activities that improve or stabilize your mood and develop a written plan to address early changes in mood. For example, loss of sleep is often an early symptom of a more serious manic episode. One part of your plan might be to make an agreement with your doctor to authorize an adjustment in your medications to help you sleep better. Another part of the plan might be to have additional sessions at this point in order to prevent a more severe manic episode.
6. Try to keep a consistent regular schedule.
Go to bed, get up and eat meals at regular times. This increases both physical and emotional stability. Frequently, over stimulation is associated with increased disorganization and the beginning of a manic episode. Keeping a weekly or monthly plan handy to review every day can also facilitate stability and consistency.
7. Plan a few pleasurable activities into each day.
The experience of pleasant events each day can have a positive effect during times of stress. Pleasant events do not have to be monumental. They can be as simple as having coffee with a friend, or taking time out to experience nature around you for a few minutes. The important thing is that you intentionally plan pleasurable activities into your day and then carry them out. This may also enable you to develop the perspective of being in control of yourself and your life.
Several excellent self-help publications are now available that illustrate how and when to use techniques to manage mood swings:
“The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide- What You and Your Family need to Know” by David J. Miklowitz is particularly useful and well grounded in science and research. (available at www.amazon.com)
“Overcoming Mood Swings: A Self-help Guide to using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques” by Jan Scott (New York University Press, 2001)
The authors have recently published a book on Bipolar Disorder. Click here www.hhpub.com for information about Dr. Reiser and Dr. Thompson’s book: “Bipolar Disorder: Advances in Psychotherapy- Evidence-based Practice”.
A Downloadable Powerpoint Presentation on Evidence Based Practices with Bipolar Disorder: NAMI Marin Advanced Workshop-Bipolar Disorder
(c) Robert Reiser, Ph.D. and Larry Thompson, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved 2014