Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens - Other Treatment

Other Treatment

Most children who have bipolar disorder need medication. However, other forms of treatment used along with medications play an important role in balancing mood and improving quality of life. Counseling, education about the disorder, and stress reduction can help children with bipolar disorder.

Other Treatment Choices

Counseling along with medications has been used effectively to manage bipolar disorder. Types of therapy that counselors use to treat bipolar disorder include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on modifying certain thinking and behavior patterns.
• Interpersonal therapy, which focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems.
• Problem-solving therapy, a type of cognitive therapy that helps you find immediate solutions to problems.
• Family therapy, which can help educate and comfort the entire family.
• Play therapy for very young children.
• Psychological education and support groups.

In some cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an option. In this procedure, brief electrical stimulation to the brain is given through electrodes placed on the head. The stimulation produces a short seizure that is thought to balance brain chemicals.

Complementary therapy

Complementary medicine is a term used for a wide variety of health care practices that may be used along with standard medical treatment. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils have been getting some attention as a possible complementary treatment of bipolar disorder. However, more research is needed to prove the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in treating this condition in children, adolescents, and adults. ⁹

What To Think About

Deciding which medications to use to treat childhood and adolescent bipolar disorder is an important decision for you, your child, and your child's doctor. Both you and your child need to understand how taking the medications and not taking the medications will affect the child's life. It is important that your child continue to take any medications prescribed to avoid a return of depressive or manic episodes.

Your child should establish a long-term relationship with a health professional both of you like. The health professional will then be able to help recognize personality changes that indicate when your child is moving into a mood episode. Getting early treatment can reduce the length of the mood episode.

Encourage your family to seek support as well. Bipolar disorder greatly affects family members. They will need to understand the disorder and what they can do to help the child, as well as themselves, in dealing with the disorder.

Adolescents (and adults) with bipolar disorder are at a high risk for suicide. You should talk to your teen about his or her feelings and watch for any self-destructive thinking or warning signs of suicide, such as making suicidal statements or having a preoccupation with death. If your child is suicidal, immediately call 911 or contact other emergency services.

Overdosing on medication is the most common way adolescents attempt suicide. However, your child is at increased risk for a completed suicide if you have a gun in your home. If your child is depressed, remove all guns (even if they are locked up) and potentially fatal medications from your home, especially if your child has shown any warning signs of suicide.