xed states. Both of these medications can be used in combination with lithium or in combination with each other. Valproate is especially helpful for patients who do not wish to take lithium, experience rapid cycling, or abuse drugs or alcohol.Neuroleptics such as Haldol or Thorazine have also been used to help stabilize manic patients who are highly agitated or psychotic. Use of these drugs is often necessary because the responses to them are rapid, but there are risks involved in their use. Because of the often severe side effects, Benzodiazepines are often used in their place. Benzodiazepines can achieve the same results as Neuroleptics for most patients in terms of rapid control of agitation and excitement, without the severe side effects.Some doctors as treatment for bipolar disorder have also used antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) Luvox and Elavil. There are studies that say these help, but these are controversial however, because conflicting research shows that SSRI's and other antidepressants can actually cause manic episodes. Most doctors can see the usefulness of antidepressants when used with mood stabilizing medications such as Lithium.In addition to the mentioned medical treatments of bipolar disorder, there are several other options available to bipolar patients, most, of which are used in conjunction with medicine.One such treatment is electro-convulsive shock therapy. ECT is the preferred treatment for severely manic patients and patients who are homicidal, psychotic, catatonic, or severely suicidal. In one study, researchers found improvement in 78% of patients treated with ECT, compared to 62% of patients treated only with lithium and 37% of patients who received neither ECT or lithium.A final type of therapy that I found is outpatient group psychotherapy. According to Dr. John Graves, spokesperson for The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association has call...
