Is CBT or psychoanalysis a better form of treatment for manic
depression?  My only empathy card: I wish I could pay more however due
to my illness I am unemployed & in process of getting any SSI.  ANY
help is welcomed!

There are several prescription drugs which can be quite effective in
treating bipolar illness. In my experience, talk therapy alone isn't
the best way to go.

I understand that.  I was interested in what type of therapy seems
most successful. . .  According to journals & other professional
outlets.  My personal findings have been 'talk therapy'(psychoanalysis
- correct?) in ineffective or not as effective for bi polar
depression.

Oh ya, thanks for the amazingly quick reply.  Let me clarify alittle
incase there is a need?  Sometimes my illness makes my brain work a
little slower or quicker.  When medication perscribed by a
'professional' is taken which type of therapy has shown the most
success: Psychoanalysis or CBT.

Bipolar disorder (which used to be known an manic depression) does not
usually respond to CBT or psychotherapy alone, the vast majority of
patients with bipolar need medications of some sort to help control
the mood swings from mania to depression.

CBT (cognative behavioral therapy) can be helpful, but it works best
when used in addition to medication. The same is true for
psychotherapy.

The moods swings of bipolar are not usually able to be controlled
without medication because it is widely believed that chemical
imbalances of the brain is a likely cause of the illness.

The use of therapy of any kind in bipolar is usually useful to help
the patient recognize triggers (events, thoughts, etc...) that can
spark a manic or depressive episode. Therapy is also useful in helping
the patient to learn the earliest signs of a manic or depressive
episode.

Some bipolar patients use a combination of medication and therapy, and
once they learn the necessary tools in therapy, medications can be
tapered or decreased gradually. This is not useful in all patients,
but many can sucessfully use what was learned in therapy to recognize
the triggers and early signs and be able to go medicatio free during
stable times and then go back on medications as necessary at the very
first signs of mania or depression.

Many professionals believe that the longer bipolar goes untreated, and
the more episodes the patient has, the worse the bipolar mood swings
get overall, so they key is avoiding any episodes and have long
periods of stability to keep the bipolar as mild as possible.

Here is a great article about the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar-
http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/treatg/pg/bipolar_revisebook_index.cfm

Here is a link to an online bipolar support group-
http://www.dbsalliance.org/Forums.html

And this group has a bipolar discussion room and a Social Security discussion room-
www.braintalk.org


I hope that helps,
Wittesea

Oh, I forgot to add that my personal belief is that CBT is better for
learning to avoid triggers and learning to recognize signs of
impending mania or depression, and psychotherapy is better for dealing
with the day to day problems that bipolar can cause.

Most people with bipolar face discrimination from friends and family
and/or dificulties in everyday life... and psychotherapy is good for
those types of things. The day to day events and feelings that affect
moods and relationships. Psychotherapy is also good for avioding
episodes of depression.

So, it is my belief that both psychotherapy and CBT are equally
helpful. One is not necessarily better than the other when it comes to
bipolar because they both have different uses. Most bipolar patients
would benefit from both. So, finding someone who can do CBT with you,
but who cn also do psychotherapy as needed would probably be the best
idea in my opinion.

Hope that helped clear things up a bit more :)

Wow, google is amazing.  Thanks for the great info!  It wasn't exactly
what I was looking for.  However, it provided me with an excellent
start!  The best part you gave the advice free of charge!  Thanks
google guys & gals you deserve a raise - sorry I can not pay it!  :)