Hospitalization may be required during an acute phase to control the symptoms and for the safety of the patient.
The mainstay of treatment are mood-stabilizing medications (such as valproic acid, lithium, and carbamazepine) which are effective for both the manic and the depressive phases as well as in preventing recurrence.
Antidepressant drugs may be given during the depressive phase, while neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drugs and benzodiazepines are often used to control mania in the acute phase.
Patients usually must take a mood stabilizer before antidepressants are given, since giving an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer may result in the patient becoming manic.
In severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used to treat persistent depression. ECT is a psychiatric treatment that causes a seizure of the central nervous system by means of an electrical current. It is used to treat severe depression and can be effective in manic disorders.
Psychotherapy may also be needed for emotional support during the depressive and manic phases.
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