Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that usually responds well to a combination of medication (mood stabilisers and atypical anti-psychotics) and therapeutic intervention. There also exist a number of different alternative approaches to treatment including:
- Omega-3
- Neurofeedback
- Acupuncture
- Animal Therapy
Omega-3 and Bipolar Disorder Treatment for Children
In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on the importance of getting enough omega-3 in one's diet. Several television advertisements aimed at parents and children, such as those for omega-3 fish fingers, have promoted public awareness of omega-3's benefits. A research study has identified that around one-third of children with bipolar disorder who took OmegaBrite supplements saw a 50% decrease in symptoms.
However, as two-thirds of participants did not benefit from such supplements, it is not recommended as a sole treatment for bipolar disorder, and as a result, it is also not covered by health insurance.
Neurofeedback and Bipolar Disorder Treatment for Kids
Unlike omega-3 supplements, neurofeedback is covered by some forms of health insurance as a form of psychotherapy. Sometimes referred to as EEG biofeedback, this approach impacts specific brain wave patterns and has been used to help kids who suffer from ADHD, learning disabilities and seizures – all of which may be co-occurring conditions in children who suffer from bipolar disorder.
A study has also revealed that children with learning disabilities who saw improvements from neurofeedback treatment were able to sustain that level of improvement for more two years following treatment. Limitations of this method include the cost – it is very expensive. In addition, there are no studies to prove its effectiveness in treating children or adults with bipolar disorder.
Acupuncture and Childhood Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Acupuncture is widely available and is used to treat a range of different physical and mental health problems. This approach has been identified as being effective for treating depression and bipolar disorder in adults, is widely available and covered by most forms of health insurance and studies indicate that acupuncture may be as effective as tricyclic antidepressants.
Unfortunately, acupuncture research has yet to be conducted on children affected with bipolar disorder and thus, it cannot be recognised as a stand-alone form of treatment.
Animal Therapy and Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Anyone who has a close bond with their pet will likely attest to the many benefits of having an animal family member. A wide range of animals including rabbits and dogs have been deemed beneficial for childhood bipolar disorder patients, as pets provide comfort and emotional support. It is, however, important that one does not take on the responsibility of a pet without first considering factors like the animal's welfare, pet-related responsibilities like care and cost, along with the pet's impact upon the entire family unit.
As highlighted above, research does support the effectiveness of some alternatives to mainstream treatment, while others have not yet been studied, therefore more research is required to understand the precise effect of these approaches.
Source:
Anglada, T. & Hakala, S. (2008) The Childhood Bipolar Disorder Answerbook Illinois: Sourcebooks.
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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