Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder (also called alcoholism and alcohol addiction) frequently occur together. It is estimated that 40% to 70% of individuals with bipolar disorder will be diagnosed with AUD during their lifetimes. Although the connection between these two disorders isn’t entirely clear, some factors seem to contribute. With proper treatment, support, and commitment to self-care, individuals with bipolar disorder can successfully manage their condition and achieve lasting sobriety. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards of improved mental health and overall well-being are immeasurable.
Treatment Strategies in Comorbid BD and AUD—General Principles of Treatment
Randomized controlled studies on pharmacological treatments of comorbid BD and AUD. In summary, only few psychotherapeutic interventions have been studied in a randomized study design and mostly only by one research group. The evidence base for suitable psychotherapies in comorbid BD and AUD remains poor. The German S3 Guidelines for AUD (49) recommends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as the best evidenced modality whereas there is no fetal alcohol syndrome face celebrities recommendation for other psychotherapies due to insufficient data. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Bipolar Disorder are often treated separately.
- Another explanation for the connection is that people with bipolar disorder can exhibit reckless behavior, and AUD is consistent with this type of behavior.
- This episode may precede or follow an episode of depression, but isn’t necessary.
- It is thought that the genes that increase the risk of bipolar disorder may be the same genes that influence alcohol addiction.
- Treatment for alcohol use disorder and bipolar disorder can vary depending on the severity of the conditions.
- Researchers haven’t identified a clear link between bipolar disorder and AUD, but there are a few possibilities.
Therefore, healthcare providers should conduct a thorough evaluation to determine how to treat each person based on alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone function their diagnosis and symptoms. There is also the possibility that bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction symptoms will present concurrently, which adds a level of complexity to the diagnosis. Other mental health conditions such as ADHD, depression, and schizophrenia may present with overlapping symptoms. To diagnose AUD, a medical or mental health professional will conduct a thorough assessment, including exploring a person’s psychological and physical health history.
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 1 to 2 percent of the population and often starts in early adulthood. The evidence for Assertive community treatment (AST) that has been examined in two RCTs is inconclusive, with one study showing a reduction of alcohol use, the other not when compared to standard clinical case management. Both studies included also patients with other major mental health disorders, such as MDD and schizophrenia; thus, both do not supply information exclusively about changes in the course of BD (96, 97).
Behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help treat both conditions. For AUD, a healthcare provider will monitor the administration of medications to reduce alcohol cravings and reduce recovery. Since alcohol can alter or enhance bipolar symptoms, treatment typically begins with detox. This allows medical providers to manage care during withdrawal, evaluate bipolar symptoms, and begin treatment. It’s more severe, with manic episodes lasting for at least a week and depressive episodes lasting for at least two.
However, it is almost always better to treat the dual diagnosis at the same time rather than have the untreated illness bring back symptoms of the one that received treatment. Drinking on bipolar medication can turn one drink into several, especially drinking on an empty stomach. Alcohol can also destabilize bipolar disorder, giving up your control of emotions to an empty glass. It can possibly relieve the negative symptoms of bipolar disorder temporarily, yet can increase chances of worsening the disorder later on.
Possible Explanations for Comorbidity
The researchers found that there was a greater familial association between alcoholism and bipolar disorder (odds ratio of 14.5) than between alcoholism and unipolar depression (odds ratio of 1.7). A positive family history of bipolar disorder or alcoholism is an important risk factor for offspring. There are a number of disorders in the bipolar spectrum, including bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymia.
A comprehensive treatment approach that addresses both the bipolar disorder and the alcohol use is typically most effective. In general, treatment-refractory patients are over-represented in the group of BD patients with comorbid SUD (107). As with most treatments, concurrent SUD including AUD is thus a predictor for inferior response to lithium. However, as shown in adolescents, achieving more mood stability with lithium can result maverick house sober living in lower levels of alcohol or drug consumption (108). Positive effects of lithium on SUD apart from indirect effects via mood stabilization could not be substantiated so far (109). As mentioned, there is a wide variation of prevalence rates for BD-SUD comorbidity across countries (2) with higher rates in the US than in other industrialized countries.
A mixed state of mind often occurs in this type of disorder with intense feelings of euphoria or excitement. Only this stage of happiness deteriorates as it is followed by extreme sadness and a bountiful sense of depression. Bipolar I is typified by mania, a state where affected individuals may not be able to accurately interpret and understand the world around them. In 2011, researchers noted that alcohol misuse can result in a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder. Treatment can help manage the symptoms of both conditions and improve quality of life. A requirement for successful treatment for AUD is a firm and ongoing commitment to abstinence.
Mild drugs don’t seem to cut out all the symptoms many feel with bipolar disorder. Additionally, many with bipolar disorder find that the side effects of most medications are so extreme that they would rather self-medicate and deal with the consequences. Addiction to alcohol and bipolar disorder are very commonly present together. In fact, some studies have found that the majority of individuals with bipolar disorder will develop an alcohol use disorder of some kind during their lives. Some estimates suggest that up to 43% of individuals with bipolar disorder have some form of an alcohol use disorder at any given time.
Bipolar disorder and alcoholism: Are they related?
People with both conditions are likely to have more severe symptoms of bipolar disorder. Treatment for alcohol use disorder and bipolar disorder can vary depending on the severity of the conditions. When bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder occur together, the combination can be more severe than having each condition independently. For both conditions, a healthcare provider usually performs a physical and psychological health assessment. It is thought that the genes that increase the risk of bipolar disorder may be the same genes that influence alcohol addiction.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Combining alcohol with mood stabilizers is not recommended, as the interactions can cause increased drowsiness, memory issues, impaired judgment, or liver problems. For example, some people may develop bipolar disorder first, while in others, AUD may appear first. Individuals with a first-degree family member, such as a parent or sibling, who has bipolar disorder are more likely to develop the condition. This section examines some of the issues to consider in treating comorbid patients, and a subsequent section reviews pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches. In adolescents with comorbid BD and SUD, inclusion of the family appears crucial. Family-focused treatment (FFT) with psychoeducation is recommended and effective (99).
Read on to find out more about the links between bipolar disorder and alcohol consumption. Medication-assisted treatment can help manage symptoms of bipolar disorder and AUD. A dual diagnosis is when someone is diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health disorder. In someone who has bipolar disorder, drinking can increase symptoms of mood shifts. However, it may also be difficult to control the impulse to drink during shifts in mood. There isn’t much research that describes how to best combine treatment for bipolar disorder and AUD, but emerging recommendations from studies are available.