Assessment
The only way to assess bipolar disorder is by looking up at the symptoms, their intensity, and their frequency such as how long you experienced the symptoms, how severe they appear, and how many lows or highs symptoms occurred.
The psychologist and psychiatrist work together to assess the disorder in both a psychological and biological manner (low level of thyroid or change in mood). The clinician makes sure that these symptoms are not caused by any substance or drug abuse.
Treatment
It is very difficult to treat bipolar as it is life long process of treatment. Psychotherapy and medication go hand in hand. For people who have four phases of bipolar in the year or the one who abuses drugs is very arduous to manage.
On the first hand, the intensity of the disorder is reduced by medication that includes mood stabilizers, anti-depressant, and anti-anxiety. Finding the right combination of medicine for you can take some time
Afterward when the client gets in the position of understanding things different techniques of psychotherapy can be used. Such as
Cognitive behavior therapy:
CBT helps you reframe your negative thoughts and place them with positive ones. Different techniques for example cognitive restructuring, monitoring your mood, going for problem-solving techniques, and developing assertiveness skills, etc.
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy:
(ISRT) is highly used for mood disorders it reduces the disturbance in your daily life and makes a rhythm. Since the change in routine causes the shift in mood, this therapy sets everything from eating to sleeping so that it retains a stable mood.
Psychoeducation:
It is very important to psychoeducation or tell the family members about the disorder so that they can able to give their support to the client. It might include what the disorder is, how to tackle it when a certain phase comes, when to give medicine and how to monitor the minor change in the client’s mood.
Family therapy:
It includes the close family member of the client. Family members are one of those who suffered most with the client the important instruction and necessary counseling is given to them so they can help in managing the client at home.
Electroconvulsive therapy:
(ECT) is shock therapy in which a very minimum amount of electrical shock is given to the client’s brain. It is basically used when other treatments such as medication and therapy didn’t work, giving a small amount of shock is expected to reboot and change the chemical activity in the brain.