**CBT as Treatment for Bipolar Disorder**
Bipolar disorder, known by many as manic abasement, is a mental affliction acquired by a combination of factors, including neurological, biological, emotional, and ecological influences. It is most commonly described as mood cycling or mood swings, in which the patient alternates between moods of depression, mania, and normal behavior.
There are abundant treatment options for bipolar ataxia. The common treatment for bipolar disorder includes a combination of medication and therapy. However, some patients are not suitable candidates for medication-based treatment. For instance, patients with a history of substance abuse should, in most cases, avoid being placed on medication for bipolar disorder due to the high risk of abuse. Additionally, some patients may not have a severe enough case of bipolar disorder to warrant medication. Other patients may choose to avoid medication until it becomes absolutely necessary.
In response to these special cases where medication treatment is not an appropriate option for bipolar disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was developed. CBT is a type of therapy that helps patients recognize triggers and causes for their manic and depressive states. The patient can then learn techniques to avoid these triggers and cope with emotions during episodes. Seventy percent of Type 1 bipolar disorder patients who undergo CBT experience one or fewer episodes within four years of starting the CBT treatment.
There are two primary goals achieved by using CBT as treatment for bipolar disorder. The first goal is to identify manic episodes before they become uncontrollable and carefully adjust how the patient responds to them. The second goal is to learn techniques, reactions, thoughts, and behaviors that can help manage depression. These goals are accomplished through various techniques and activities prescribed by the therapist. With CBT, the treatment of bipolar disorder relies heavily on the patient, who is given homework in the form of exercises and reading, helping them understand their condition and learn methods to cope with it.
The first step toward successful treatment of bipolar disorder through CBT is to develop a treatment contract with the patient. This is a treatment plan that the patient agrees to follow, involving their commitment to complete all homework assignments and take any prescribed medication as directed. Since the success of CBT depends largely on the patient's dedication and willingness to cope with bipolar disorder, this is an important first step for successful treatment.
The second step toward effective treatment of bipolar disorder through CBT is to monitor and track moods. This is done using various worksheets provided by the therapist. The patient may record their mood for the day, how many hours they have slept, their energy level, and their stress level. Those with Type 2 bipolar disorder may need to record their mood two or more times per day, as their moods cycle more frequently.
Understanding the pattern of mood cycling can help the patient proceed to the next step in CBT treatment for bipolar disorder. This step requires the patient to do homework in the form of worksheets and reading, helping them understand how their thoughts influence their emotions. By understanding this relationship, the patient will be able to practice altering their thoughts in a rational way, making their emotions more rational as well, thereby decreasing the frequency and severity of depressive and manic episodes.
The next step in CBT treatment for bipolar disorder is to learn how to identify triggers. Triggers are the thoughts, feelings, situations, times of year, events, or environments that initiate a depressive or manic episode. By learning how to understand and recognize their triggers, the patient can then learn to avoid them entirely, reducing the number and severity of depressive and manic episodes.
Overall, CBT is a viable and highly successful treatment for bipolar disorder and can serve as a healthy alternative to medication in some cases. If you feel you may be a candidate for CBT, you should consult your doctor or therapist to discuss this and other bipolar disorder treatment options.
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