Numerous studies have concluded that patients with mixed or rapid cycling bipolar disorder are more likely to respond to anticonvulsant medications than to lithium (Bowden 1995). More specifically, as stated previously, compared to non-substance abusers, alcoholics appear to be at greater risk for developing mixed mania and rapid cycling. There is also evidence to suggest that these subtypes of bipolar disorder have different responses to medications (Prien et al. 1988), which would help provide a rationale for the choice of agents in the alcoholic bipolar patient.
- The nature of the relationship between alcoholism and bipolar disorder is complex and not well understood.
- There’s a chance that the routes that lead to alcohol use disorder – bipolar disorder or bipolar disorder – alcohol use disorder are different.
- This co-occurrence is surpassed by the occurrence of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in alcohol dependence .
- Anticonvulsants can manage acute episodes and address the underlying temperament that drives the desire for mood enhancement and activation.
Let your doctor or mental health counselor know if you think you might have alcohol use disorder or have any questions or concerns about alcohol use. It’s possible that alcohol use might increase impulsivity in people with bipolar disorder, but more research is needed. Impulsivity is also a common symptom of bipolar disorder, especially during manic or hypomanic episodes.
Alcohol and Bipolar Disorder: Causes, Effects & Treatment
Although research suggests that alcohol and other drug abuse may worsen the course of bipolar disorder, some data indicate that patients with bipolar disorder and alcoholism do better in substance abuse treatment than alcoholic patients with other mood disorders. Maxwell and Shinderman (2000) reviewed the use of naltrexone in the treatment of alcoholism in 72 patients with major mental disorders, including bipolar disorder and major depression. If the study participants had continued with AA and if psychotherapy had continued to focus on bipolar disorder and alcoholism, the patients’ substance use might have improved. However, some data indicate that with effective treatment of mood symptoms, patients with bipolar disorder can have remission of their alcoholism. Only a few mental health disorders are as closely linked to alcohol abuse as bipolar disorder. Studies have shown that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop substance use disorders, with alcohol being one of the most commonly abused substances.
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They analyzed data from 584 people with BD participating in the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder, which has been collecting data since 2006. The evidence did not show that feeling bad or having trouble at work made BD patients drink more. The finest, but as of yet inadequate, evidence-based psychosocial therapies are cognitive behavior therapy and image-guided therapy. Although they are still rare, pharmacological and integrated psychotherapy methods that give equal weight to both illnesses are advised. A cut-off score of 2 standard deviations has been shown to effectively identify significantly impaired individuals .
Alcohol can worsen bipolar symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of medications. Treatment focuses on stabilizing bipolar symptoms, managing cravings, and teaching coping skills. They also learn to manage symptoms and develop healthier coping skills. Also known as alcoholism, AUD occurs when alcohol consumption becomes a problem. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.
The authors concluded that the development of dually focused psychosocial treatments for this population may help improve substance use and affective outcomes. Although differences in mood or substance use between months 1 and 6 were not statistically significant, there was a trend for increased substance use. The investigators found that psychotherapy and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) attendance decreased over time and that substance use tended to increase from month 1 to month 6. Thus, if an alcoholic has the choice between taking lithium or drinking alcohol, it is very likely the alcoholic will not be compliant with lithium. The authors concluded that naltrexone was useful in treating patients with comorbid psychiatric and alcohol problems.
There are a number of disorders in the bipolar spectrum, including bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymia. That is, they co-occur more often than would be expected by chance and they co-occur more often than do alcoholism and unipolar depression. Some studies have evaluated the effects of valproate, lithium, and naltrexone, as well as psychosocial interventions, in treating alcoholic bipolar patients, but further research is needed. Alcohol use may worsen the clinical course of bipolar disorder, making it harder to treat.
Tips for Limiting Alcohol With Bipolar Disorder
However, there has been limited research on how to treat individuals who have both alcoholism and another medical condition. According to the literature, self-medicating with alcohol is not an effective treatment for alcoholism, unless it is being used to alleviate the psychological and neurochemical effects caused by alcohol. Programs like those at The Recovery Village offer comprehensive care for co-occurring disorders, providing the therapy, medical support, and guidance needed to set you on the path toward long-term wellness. Bipolar disorder can be emotionally and physically taxing, leading some people to reach for alcohol as a coping mechanism. They may have some symptoms of mania or depression but not meet the specific diagnostic criteria. Cyclothymia, or cyclothymic disorder, involves chronic fluctuations between milder depressive symptoms and hypomanic symptoms for at least two years (one year in children and adolescents).
Alcohol May Interfere With Bipolar Medications
- Your doctor or counselor may recommend behavioral therapy, medication, or a combination of both to treat alcohol use disorder.
- A person is more likely to seek treatment during a depressive episode than a manic episode.
- Comorbidities, such as substance use disorder and anxiety disorder, have not been studied separately .
- Bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder, or other types of substance misuse, can be a dangerous mix.
- We need prospective validation, which we plan to achieve through the completion of our study’s prospective part .
- Substance abuse is common in bipolar disorder patients and can worsen their illness.
Moreover, alcohol use can make it difficult for healthcare providers to accurately diagnose and treat bipolar disorder. Many medications used to treat bipolar disorder, including mood stabilizers and antidepressants, can interact dangerously with alcohol. The dangers of drinking with bipolar disorder extend far beyond the immediate effects on mood Bipolar disorder and alcohol and behavior. The symptoms may include mood swings, impulsivity, and changes in energy levels that resemble those of bipolar disorder. This condition mimics the symptoms of bipolar disorder but is directly caused by alcohol consumption. Moreover, alcohol can interfere with sleep patterns and circadian rhythms, which are crucial for mood stability in bipolar disorder.
Bipolar II disorder has episodes of depression and hypomanic episodes but no mania. These mood disorders include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and extreme lows (depression).1 That’s because alcohol intensifies the symptoms of bipolar disorder through its depressive effects.
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If you do drink, it’s important to limit the amount of alcohol you consume and avoid combining it with other substances, such as cannabis. Understanding what alcohol does to your condition and discussing it with your doctor can help you maintain better health and well-being. Further study of this important comorbidity is needed to better understand its course and treatment. Unfortunately, there has been little study of the appropriate treatment of this comorbidity.
The Recovery Village Ridgefield
When bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder feel impossible to manage, BrightQuest offers a path forward. Our program was designed specifically for individuals living with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. At BrightQuest Treatment Centers, we understand how complex life can feel when you’re facing bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder together. Likewise, if treatment addresses only alcohol misuse, unmanaged bipolar symptoms can drive a return to drinking. When bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder occur together, treating only one condition is rarely effective.
However, drinking alcohol while taking these medications can be dangerous. Integrated dual diagnosis treatment is essential to address both issues together and protect long-term health and safety. Bipolar disorder causes cycles of manic highs and depressive lows that can feel overwhelming. Understanding how these two conditions interact is the first step toward protecting your mental health and building lasting stability. Your treatment plan may or may not include an antidepressant, depending on your specific symptoms and needs. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that causes distress or impairs your ability to function at work, school, home, or in other areas of life.
New Drug for Opioid Addiction: Breakthrough Treatment Options
During manic episodes, individuals may be more likely to engage in excessive drinking, creating a dangerous cycle of escalating symptoms and substance abuse. Research indicates that up to 60% of individuals with bipolar disorder will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives, with alcohol abuse being particularly common. By recognizing the harmful interplay of alcohol and bipolar disorder, seeking integrated treatment, and developing healthier coping strategies, individuals can maintain stability and find renewed hope.
Our mission is to help people rediscover purpose, rebuild trust in themselves, and develop the tools needed for a stable, fulfilling future. Our long-term residential treatment programs support adults with complex psychiatric and co-occurring conditions. With expert care, evidence-based treatment, and continued support, it’s possible to regain control and build a life grounded in stability and purpose. Although managing both conditions takes time and commitment, many people go on to live fulfilling, stable, and connected lives. A structured aftercare plan may include outpatient therapy, peer support groups, or ongoing psychiatric care. By receiving integrated care for both conditions, individuals can learn new coping strategies, strengthen emotional regulation, and build a more stable path forward.
Research shows that integrated treatment – which combines therapy, medication management, and holistic care – is the most effective approach for co-occurring disorders. A residential treatment program provides the safest and most comprehensive setting for people with co-occurring disorders. While not everyone with bipolar disorder experiences suicidal thoughts, those who also misuse alcohol face a significantly higher risk. The link between bipolar disorder, alcohol use, and suicide risk is especially concerning.
Hope, Healing, and Long-Term Support at BrightQuest For Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Abuse
Each step toward understanding and addressing bipolar disorder and alcoholism is a step toward a healthier, more balanced life. Rapid cycling is not a separate diagnosis; instead, it describes a course specifier for bipolar disorder in which a person experiences four or more episodes of mania, hypomania, or depression within a year. Living with bipolar disorder can be a challenging journey, one often characterized by shifting moods, unpredictable energy levels and varying degrees of depression or mania. If you or someone you love is struggling with bipolar disorder and alcohol use, BrightQuest offers comprehensive residential treatment for co-occurring disorders. Living with bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder can feel overwhelming, but with the right treatment and professional support, recovery and long-term stability are possible. Studies show that individuals with both bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder are more likely to experience emergency hospitalizations, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm behaviors.
If left untreated, alcohol dependence and withdrawal are likely to worsen mood symptoms, thereby forming a vicious cycle of alcohol use and mood instability. Researchers have also proposed that the presence of mania may precipitate or exacerbate alcoholism (Hasin et al. 1985). Finally, other researchers have suggested that alcohol use and withdrawal may affect the same brain chemicals (i.e., neurotransmitters) involved in bipolar illness, thereby allowing one disorder to change the clinical course of the other. Rather, alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in the failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home; drinking in dangerous situations; and having recurring alcohol-related legal problems and relationship problems that are caused or worsened by drinking (APA 1994).
