Definition:
Mood stabilizers are medications used to even out the mood swings experienced by a person with bipolar disorder. All mood stabilizers treat mania and hypomania, and some have been found to be effective in treating depression as well.
Mood stabilizers are medications used to even out the mood swings experienced by a person with bipolar disorder. All mood stabilizers treat mania and hypomania, and some have been found to be effective in treating depression as well.
The first mood stabilizer discovered was lithium, a naturally occurring substance. Other mood stabilizers currently used were originally developed to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, and are thus called anticonvulsants.
In addition, certain antipsychotic drugs may be used as mood stabilizers.
Read in depth: Mood Stabilizers for Bipolar Disorder
Also see the additional resources below for more information.
Examples:
After Henry was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, his psychiatrist prescribed a mood stabilizer and an antipsychotic to help control his mood swings and delusions.More Glossary Entries: A | B | C | D | E-F | G-H | I-L | M | N-O | P | Q-R | S | T | U-Z
