Is behavior therapy also a part of the treatment for bipolar disorder?
Yes, behavior therapy for the child can make a real difference. However, many doctors say they don’t think young kids respond to behavior therapy as well as they do to medication — they don’t have the language skills to really make use of it. Others point out that some kids are so sick, they simply can’t benefit from therapy unless they are already on some medication to bring their symptoms under control. It’s important to note that top studies sponsored by the National Institue of Mental Health suggest that medication alone is less effective than the combination of medication and behavior therapy. In addition, counseling and a therapeutic approach including family and teachers plays an important role in eliminating home, school and social stressors that can aggravate a mental disorder. However, experts point out that health insurance more readily reimburses for medications than for therapy, and some wonder whether the system isn’t being set up to favor medication over other forms of
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- Is behavior therapy also a part of the treatment for bipolar disorder?