Telemedicine

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

High-quality, affordable, and patient-centered bipolar disorder treatment in the states of New Mexico and Kansas.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

There are two types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I and Bipolar II.

Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar I disorder proportionately affects both men and women. Mania is the hallmark symptom and may have been preceded by a previous depressive or hypomanic episode.

Symptoms of mania last at least ONE week and may include an abnormally persistent elated, expansive, elevated, or irritable mood, abnormally persistent goal-oriented activity, distractibility, impulsivity and recklessness, flight of ideas or racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep even with little or no rest, and extreme talkativeness or pressure to keep talking.

This causes marked impairment in important areas of functioning, requires hospitalization, or presents with psychotic features.

Bipolar II Disorder

Hypomania is the hallmark symptom for Bipolar II disorder. Patients have a current or past hypomanic episode and a current or past depressive episode. Symptoms of hypomania are less severe than mania and do not cause impairment in important areas of functioning. Symptoms of hypomania last for at least 4 days but less than a week and do not require hospitalization or psychotic features.

In fact, patients with Bipolar II often do not report the hypomanic episode as they enjoy the “happy times” because they spend most of their time in depression. Although less severe, symptoms of hypomania may include an abnormally persistent elated, expansive, elevated, or irritable mood, abnormally persistent goal-oriented activity, distractibility, impulsivity and recklessness, flight of ideas or racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep even with little or no rest, and extreme talkativeness or pressure to keep talking.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Medications (mood stabilizers and antipsychotics) are the mainstay of therapy; however, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and family-focused therapy are useful in improving outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder.

Mood stabilizers commonly used are lithium (Eskalith), valproate (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (trileptal), and lamotrigine (Lamictal). Examples of antipsychotics include quetiapine (Seroquel), aripiprazole (abilify), risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), lurasidone (Latuda), and ziprasidone (Geodon), caripazine (vraylar), asenapine (saphris), and paliperidone (Invega).

Start Treatment With An Expert