Holistic Wellness for Bipolar Disorder
Written by Natalie Hopkins
Edited by Sameeha Salman
Jan 31, 2021
Edited by Sameeha Salman
Jan 31, 2021
Does the idea of bipolar disorder make you think of “highs” and “lows” in your moods? Have you ever considered associating “medication” and “therapy”? Most often, when one thinks of bipolar disorder treatment, the main focus is on a strict and well maintained medication plan, yet the use of varying types of therapy is found to be equally as important. Attending therapy, whether that be regularly or every month, is critical for mental health, and recently has even shown positive effects for those with bipolar disorder, a mental illness involving diagnosed periods of elation and depression. A study conducted by researchers at UCLA has analyzed the effects of pairing familial, group therapies with the standard medication regimen to observe the outcome of this novel approach on bipolar disorder treatment.
The research efforts led by David Miklowitz and his colleagues were the conduction of several studies to analyze the effects of therapy on bipolar disorder symptoms, such as mania episodes, depressive episodes, and inability to stick to a routine. In this study, patients either had an additional form of therapy or the standard treatment, which is medication with a psychiatrist followup. The results showed that additional therapy actually improves the stability of the patient and their overall wellbeing by measuring recurrence rates of bipolar symptoms. From the results, they found that “psychoeducation”, which is the teaching of coping skills and how to maintain a routine, within a group setting, either being peers or family, was more beneficial than just individual therapy for reducing mania and depressive episodes. In addition, program dropout rates were lowered with cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and interpersonal therapy, and were better for limiting depressive symptoms.
These discoveries prove that having family or members of your support system integrated into therapy results in reduced symptoms and a stable routine of medication and healthy daily activities. This can be attributed to the fact that having a close group from group therapy and/or family to be able to tell when one is behaving differently can help in identifying the beginning of an episode before it happens. Support from loved ones in maintaining a schedule and staying on track is far more effective than simply medication alone and vice versa with medication supplementing therapy and familial support. If you have a loved one with bipolar disorder, take the time to attend therapy with them and show your commitment to their wellbeing.
Works Cited
University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences. "Therapy plus medication better than medication alone in bipolar disorder." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 October 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201014140938.htm>.
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