Bipolar disorder and alcoholism commonly occur together and each can worsen the severity of other. Research shows that men with bipolar disorder are three times more likely to suffer from alcoholism than other men. For women with bipolar disorder the rate is seven times than the women without the disorder. It is generally believed that 30 to 60% of bipolar disorder patients struggle with alcoholism.
Self-Medication
Bipolar disorder patients generally use alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate believing that drinking alcohol can relieve many of the symptoms of their illness like anxiety, sleeplessness, and pain. The unfortunate fact is that this relief is only short lived and the use of alcohol actually increases the likelihood of mood shifts.
Alcoholisms’ effect on bi polar disorder
Clinical evidence shows that alcohol use worsens the clinical course of bipolar disorder and makes it more difficult to treat. Use of alcohol worsens the health which results in increased incidents of hospitalization. Need of costly psychiatric service is common with bipolar disorder patients who are alcohol abusers.
Alcoholism in bipolar disorder patients is associated with increased suicidal tendencies. Studies have shown a significantly higher rate of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder who are alcoholics. Alcoholism makes it difficult for the patients to stick to the course of medication which results in increased disability rate. Some doctors claim that increased death rate is associated with the presence of bipolar disorder and alcoholism.
Alcoholism and bi polar disorder diagnosis
Alcoholics usually report mood swings so if a bipolar disorder patient is alcoholic it will be difficult to distinguish the reason for the mood swing. The patient might be showing the symptoms of bi polar disorder but as an alcoholic, family members consider them the symptoms of alcoholism. Alcohol intoxication can produce a condition undistinguishable from mania associated with bipolar disorder which is characterized by increased energy, severe mood swings and sometimes paranoia. Thus, the comorbidity of alcoholism with bipolar disorder is really a challenge for bipolar disorder diagnosis.
Treatment of bipolar disorder and alcolicism
If the bipolar disorder patient is alcoholic, the doctor’s job is considerably more difficult. There are some medications that cannot be used with alcohol (for example lithium which is used widely to treat bipolar disorder). Alcohol severely inhibits the effects of such bipolar medications and the doctor will have to find alternate forms of medication to treat the bipolar disorder. Medications that can decrease the craving for alcoholism are the best option. Psychological treatments demonstrated success with patients who have alcoholism and bipolar disorder. Many of the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy for bipolar disorder are commonly applied in the treatment of alcoholism.
