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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Abilify to treat Bipolar Disorder?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Abilify to treat Bipolar Disorder?
by Ilsa, Oct 28, 2006 12:00AM
Hi...I was wondering what you could tell me about the drug Abilify, as my 16 yr. old nephew was just diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and has been prescribed this medication...also I thought that was a hereditary disorder, is it?or isn't it?? thankyou.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Oct 31, 2006 12:00AM
, Oct 31, 2006 12:00AM
I am sorry to tell you that the diagnostic criteria are such that your nephew's may or may not be hereditary, which in large part depends on the family history, the severity and other factors. It is a good medication, but also a powerful one with known side effects that need to be discussed with your doctor. YOu, or your nephew, just look it up, ask questions, and be totally informed.
Abilify is a medication used to treat schizophrenia and/or bi polar disorder, however, I do believe it hasn't been well studied in children under 18. You may want to pay close attention to his behavior for the first 6 - 8 weeks he's on the medication. I'm wondering why they didn't try lithium first?
As with most disorders, there is a genetic part to it, but it's not the only part. My mom is bipolar as well, but environmental and other factors influenced my becoming bipolar. Hope this helps.