children s health issues
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Treatment
Second-generation antipsychotics Mood-stabilizing medications Sometimes antidepressants Psychotherapy In bipolar disorder, episodes of mania and agitation are treated with second-generation antipsychotics and mood-stabilizing medications. Antipsychotics include Mood stabilizers include Lithium and certain anticonvulsant medications (divalproex, Episodes of depression are treated with Second-generation antipsychotics plus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs] Lithium Antidepressantsare not used alone but in combination with the antipsychotics orlithium. Individual and family psychotherapy helps children and their families cope with the consequences of the disorder. Psychotherapy can help adolescents, who are prone to not follow their drug regimen, continue to follow it. If adolescents have mild to moderate symptoms and follow their drug regimen, they usually do well. Antipsychotic medications are the treatment of choice for children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. Treatment withlithiumcan decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors. 