Managing Bipolar Disorder: 2 Psychology Backed Methods For Effective Treatment

 / 

,
Managing Bipolar Disorder Psychology Backed Methods

Living with bipolar disorder is not easy, but the good news is that there are certain things that can help in managing bipolar disorder. More specifically, there are two types of psychological methods that can really help you deal with this. Let’s find out more about how to treat bipolar disorder and tips for managing bipolar disorder.

This new blog column aims to provide a โ€œdeep diveโ€ into the science-backed, therapeutic skills that can help people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and enriched lives.

Mood-stabilizing medication is the cornerstone of bipolar disorder treatment, yet several years of scientific research on bipolar disorder have also told us that there is an important role for certain psychological therapies in the treatment of this condition.

Specifically, skills-based psychological interventions that teach people tangible tools for managing their bipolar disorder and reaching their life goals have scientific support for improving treatment outcomes in bipolar disorder when combined with medication treatment.

Such skills-based psychological interventions may include:

Related: Bipolar Disorder: 10 Facts Everyone Should Know And Be Aware Of

2 Effective Skills-Based Psychological Interventions For Managing Bipolar Disorder

1. Psychoeducation

Effectively managing a medical condition requires education about the ins and outs of that condition, and bipolar disorder is no different. The goal of psychoeducation for bipolar disorder is to provide people with education on their bipolar disorder and how they can best manage it.

Psychoeducation provides information on the importance of taking medications as prescribed, recognizing warning signs and triggers for mood episodes (depression or (hypo)mania), and problem-solving strategies for intervening on these triggers.

What bipolar disorder feels like and managing bipolar disorder
What Suffering From Bipolar Disorder Really Feels Like

2. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT

Recognizing the relationship among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is the foundation of CBT for bipolar disorder. The goal of CBT for bipolar disorder is to help people recognize how shifts in thinking patterns and mood during mood episodes (such as episodes of depression and (hypo)mania) can have a direct impact on behaviors and, in turn, negatively impact oneโ€™s health.

CBT for bipolar disorder provides tools for recognizing the relationship between specific thought patterns and mood states, changing problematic thought patterns, and learning behavioral skills that can help with mood stability.

In each blog post, I will pull from these and other skills-based psychological interventions to present how different therapeutic skills could be applied to help address common treatment topics in the management of bipolar disorder.

This blog column is intended as an educational resource where people with bipolar disorder, their loved ones, and their clinicians can learn about the types of skills-based interventions that may be applied to treat bipolar disorder.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About Bipolar Disorder

Information on the โ€œgold standardโ€ (no pun intended) skills-based psychological interventions that can help people with bipolar disorder should be readily accessible to all. I hope that the information readers learn here can help them find effective treatments for managing bipolar disorder.

Want to know more about how to deal with bipolar disorder? Check this video out below!

Dealing with bipolar disorder through some of the best strategies out there

References:

Geddes, J.R., Miklowitz, D.J., 2013. Treatment of bipolar disorder. Lancet 381, 1672โ€“1682.

Miklowitz DJ, Efthimiou O, Furukawa TA, Scott J, McLaren R, Geddes JR, Cipriani A. Adjunctive Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review and Component Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 1;78(2):141-150.

Novick DM, Swartz HA. Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Bipolar Disorder. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2019 Jul;17(3):238-248.

Stafford N, Colom F. Purpose and effectiveness of psychoeducation in patients with bipolar disorder in a bipolar clinic setting. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 2013;(442):11-8.

Written By Alexandra Gold Ph.D.
Originally Appeared On Psychology Today
Managing Bipolar Disorder Psychology Backed Methods pin
Managing Bipolar Disorder: 2 Psychology Backed Methods For Effective Treatment

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply



Up Next

The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Parentification

The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Parentification

Have you ever felt like you were the parent in your relationship with your mom and dad? That’s emotional parentification, and it’s a lot more common than you think.

What is Parentification?

Do you feel like you have been acting the role of a therapist for your parents, regulating their emotions and problem-solving for them? Maybe you may have taken on the part of a caregiver for your siblings?. If you are inclined to answer yes, you may relate to being a parentified child.

Parentification is when there is a role reversal between a parent and child. The child is expected to take on functional responsibilities or the emotional caring of the family members that are not developmentally appropriate for the child. Researcher’



Up Next

Emotional Vocabulary 101: 6 Easy Steps to Express Yourself Better

Emotional Vocabulary: Steps to Express Yourself Better

Struggling to express your feelings can feel really frustrating. And that’s why building a strong emotional vocabulary can make a huge difference in your life. Imagine being able to articulately express your emotions and understand others’ emotions more clearly.

Today, we are going to talk about some of the best things you can do improve your emotional vocabulary and explain why it’s so important. When you have better emotional words at your disposal, you will notice that you are better able to enhance your communication skills and build stronger and more meaningful connections with those around you.

So, are you ready to elevate your emotional lingo and show everyone how it’s done? Let’s get started with the meaning of emotional vocabulary.



Up Next

30 Journal Prompts for Anxiety When Youโ€™re Feeling Suffocated by Family Tension

Journal Prompts for Anxiety When Dealing with Family Tension

When family tension feels overwhelming, turning to a few journal prompts for anxiety can be a comforting and grounding practice. These 30 prompts can help you navigate and soothe those anxious moments.

If you are reading this, you know EXACTLY what it feels like when family tension starts to weigh down on you. It’s like you are carrying a backpack filled with rocks, and every passive-aggressive comment or disagreement feels like you are adding another rock to the already heavy weight you are carrying.

The constant pressure of navigating these tense situations can leave you feeling anxious, on edge, and unsure of how to cope. Trust me, I have been there more times than I can count. But fear not, because there is a simple tool that can help lighten that load: Journaling.

Before I started j



Up Next

Caught in a Loop: The Role of Repetition Compulsion in Relationships

Repetition Compulsion in Relationships: From Past to Present

Repetition compulsion is a common issue in relationships, leading many people to relive old hurts and conflicts. These recurring patterns and conflicts can feel frustration and bewildering. Explore how repetition compulsion works in the article below.

KEY POINTS

The โ€œrepetition compulsionโ€ is a basic concept in psychotherapy.

Freud believed the repetition compulsion was a reflection of the death instinctโ€”an unconscious drive toward self-destruction.

The repetition compulsion is acted out through processes such as displacement and projection.

The โ€œrepetition co



Up Next

When Therapy Gets Intense: Exploring Negative Transference

Exploring Negative Transference: When Therapy Gets Intense

Have you ever heard of the term “negative transference”? Well, negative transference can turn therapy sessions into an emotional rollercoaster, and make them unexpectedly intense. Does your therapist suddenly feel like an annoying sibling or a strict teacher? Well, maybe that is what is negative transference.

KEY POINTS:

Transference is a psychological experience that originates in childhood and is revived in psychoanalysis.

Melanie Kleinโ€™s concept of envy is a major contribution to understanding negative transference.

Devaluing the analysis and showing indifference to the analyst can prevent a working alliance.



Up Next

What Is Irrational Guilt And How Can You Overcome It?

What Is Irrational Guilt And How Can You Overcome It?

There are so many people in this world who suffer from irrational guilt over things that were completely out of their control. It’s a heavy burden to carry and if you are one of them, then know that you are not alone. Living with irrational guilt is heartbreaking, but overcoming irrational guilt is not as impossible as it may seem.

KEY POINTS:

Many people suffer from irrational guilt, blaming themselves for things over which they had no control.

The guilt is based on the conviction that they had the power to control a terrible event or situation.

Self-forgiveness requires giving up illusion of omnipotence.



Up Next

The Zeigarnik Effect: The Reason You Feel Constantly Overwhelmed

The Zeigarnik Effect: Why You Feel Constantly Overwhelmed

Ever wonder why your to-do list seems to weigh you down, even when you haven’t touched it in hours? That’s the Zeigarnik effect in play! It’s the sneaky reason you can’t stop thinking about unfinished tasks and feel constantly overwhelmed. But don’t worry, we will discuss how to overcome Zeigarnik effect.

You know how having too many open Chrome tabs bogs your computer down?

The same happens to your brain.

Unfinished tasks keep โ€œrunningโ€ in the background.

Itโ€™s called the Zeigarnik Effect.

Hereโ€™s how it works and what to do about itโ€ฆ