Treatments for Bipolar Illness

     A poignant quotation from the National Institute of Mental Health U.S. says: “Manic-depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviours, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to live. It is an illness that is biological in its origins, yet one that feels psychological in the experience of it; an illness that is unique in conferring advantage and pleasure, yet one that brings in its wake almost unendurable suffering and, not infrequently, suicide.”

Conventional Treatments

    The most common treatment for bipolar illness is lithium, however, is not without risk since it can adversely affect the thyroid and kidneys.  Often a combination of medications are used including mood stabilizers like Tegretol or Depakote, mixed with ntidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft, or Effexor, and antipsychotic medications such as Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify, Risperdal, or Serquel.  Sometimes anti-anxiety medications are added as well.  In addition to the medications, reliable studies have shown that fish oil which contains Omega 3 can be beneficial to bipolar individuals. 

Fish Oil

      Studies show that in countries that eat the least fish there is a higher incidence of depression and bipolar mood disorder.  In Japan the average fish consumption per person is 150 pounds a year whereas in New Zealand the average person eats only 40 pounds a year.  New Zealand has sixty times the rate of depression as Japan.  During the last 100 years the North American diet has changed dramatically and there is far less fish consumption and people are eating more harmful fatty acids.  As a result, the depression rate has increased a hundred times.     The therapeutic ingredient in fish oil is the Omega-3.  Studies that tried using Omega-6 failed miserably.  The ideal ratio is a 1:1 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega- 6.  However, our North American diet consists of Omega-6 twenty times as much as Omega-3.

     In a groundbreaking Harvard study in 1999, Dr. Andrew Stoll used 9.6 grams of fish oil on bipolar patients and placebos on the control group.  The fish oil group improved, not in controlling mania, but especially in controlling depression.  However, higher doses of fish oil do not necessarily improve the results.   In 2001, a study showed that the patients that improved the most were taking one gram of fish oil.  Others who had 2-4 grams improved only modestly.

     The type of fish oil capsules to look for will have a high omega-3 concentration.  If you have stomach problems you will want a fish oil that doesn’t have a fishy aftertaste and is enteric coated. You’ll also want one without cholesterol.  Begin with 3 grams of essential fatty acids (EPA) a day and keep your fish oil in the refrigerator.  If you are a strict vegan you can substitute 1-2 tablespoons flaxseed oil instead of the fish oil.  The higher quality fish oils have utilized nitrogen to produce the supplements.  Some reputable brands are:

Nutra Sea and pharmaceutical grade fish oil.

  Even with medical and alternative treatments through there is no cure for bipolar illness and it requires lifelong monitoring, counselling, and medication.