manic symptoms in undiagnosed controls, it is evident from thisstudy that light treatment may be associated with the observedsymptoms. Based on the results, careful professional monitoring duringlight treatment is necessary, even for those without a history of majormood disorders. Another popular treatment for bipolar disorder iselectro-convulsive shock therapy. ECT is the preferred treatment forseverely manic pregnant patients and patients who are homicidal,psychotic, catatonic, medically compromised, or severely suicidal. Inone study, researchers found marked improvement in 78% of patientstreated with ECT, compared to 62% of patients treated only with lithiumand 37% of patients who received neither, ECT or lithium (Black et al.,1987). A final type of therapy that I found is outpatient grouppsychotherapy. According to Dr. John Graves, spokesperson for TheNational Depressive and Manic Depressive Association has calledattention to the value of support groups, and challenged mental healthprofessionals to take a more serious look at group therapy for thebipolar population. Research shows that group participation may help increase lithiumcompliance, decrease denial regarding the illness, and increaseawareness of both external and internal stress factors leading to manicand depressive episodes. Group therapy for patients with bipolardisorders responds to the need for support and reinforcement ofmedication management, and the need for education and support for theinterpersonal difficulties that arise during the course of the disorder....
