Bipolar disorder specialist · Cranford, New Jersey
Bipolar Disorder Treatment in Cranford, NJ
Evaluation and ongoing treatment for adults with bipolar disorder at a psychiatrist-led practice in Union County. When you come for an evaluation, the team assesses symptoms of depression, mania, and hypomania.
Labyrinth Psychiatry Group · Updated · Clinical review by Dr. Salvatore G. Savatta pending
The short answer
Where to get bipolar disorder treatment in Cranford.
Labyrinth Psychiatry Group treats adults with bipolar disorder at 11 Commerce Drive, Lobby Floor, Cranford, NJ 07016. At the evaluation, the team assesses symptoms of depression, mania, and hypomania. Treatments the practice lists include medication and psychotherapy, with follow-up in person in Cranford or by telehealth. The practice lists Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, TRICARE, and UnitedHealthcare / Oxford. Call 908-336-1187 or send a request online to start.
Standard treatment for bipolar disorder is medication, usually a mood stabilizer or an atypical antipsychotic, often together with psychotherapy. It usually needs long-term care, and proper treatment can lead to better functioning and quality of life (NIMH).
Bipolar disorder in adults
More common, and more disruptive, than many people think.
Bipolar disorder causes mood swings far beyond everyday ups and downs: manic or hypomanic episodes with unusually high or irritable mood and energy, and depressive episodes with low mood and very low activity. Symptoms usually start in late adolescence or early adulthood (NIMH).
- 2.8% of U.S. adults had bipolar disorder in the past year.
- 4.4% of U.S. adults have bipolar disorder at some point in their lives.
- 82.9% of adults with bipolar disorder in the past year had serious impairment, the highest share among mood disorders.
Source: NIMH statistics, from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.
Mania or depression?
What each kind of episode can look like.
Episodes last a week or two or longer, with symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, and changes that other people notice. A mixed episode has both kinds of symptoms (NIMH).
| Area | Manic episode | Depressive episode |
|---|---|---|
| Mood | Very up, high, elated, or extremely irritable or touchy | Very down, sad, or anxious |
| Energy and activity | Jumpy or wired, more active than usual, doing many things at once without tiring | Slowed down or restless; unable to do even simple things |
| Thinking and speech | Racing thoughts; talking fast about many different things | Trouble concentrating or deciding; talking slowly or forgetting a lot |
| Sleep | Much less need for sleep | Trouble falling asleep, waking too early, or sleeping too much |
| Self-image and drive | Feeling unusually important, talented, or powerful; too much appetite for food, drinking, sex, or other pleasures | Feeling hopeless or worthless; little interest in almost anything; thoughts of death or suicide |
Source: NIMH, symptom table shortened. Hypomania is a milder form of mania that may feel productive; family and friends may notice the mood swings before the person does.
Types
Bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia.
- Bipolar I disorder. Manic episodes that last at least 7 days, or are severe enough to need hospital care. Depressive episodes of at least 2 weeks usually happen as well.
- Bipolar II disorder. Depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, which are milder than full mania. Many people spend long stretches in a low-grade depression.
- Cyclothymic disorder. Repeated hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not strong enough, or do not last long enough, to count as episodes.
Four or more episodes of mania or depression within a year is called rapid cycling. Symptoms that do not match these types are diagnosed as other specified or unspecified bipolar disorder (NIMH).
Why diagnosis takes care
Getting the diagnosis right comes before medication.
Some people live with bipolar disorder for years before it is diagnosed. According to NIMH:
- People with bipolar II often seek help only for depression, so hypomanic episodes go unnoticed.
- Thyroid disease can cause symptoms like bipolar disorder, and prescribed, recreational, or illicit drugs can mimic or worsen mood symptoms.
- If an early depressive episode is treated with an antidepressant alone, without a mood stabilizer, it can trigger a manic episode or rapid cycling.
- Anxiety disorders, ADHD, alcohol or drug misuse, and eating disorders often occur alongside bipolar disorder.
NIMH advises looking at the course of symptoms over time and at family history, not only at how someone feels today (NIMH). If you have been treated for depression and antidepressants made you feel wired, sleepless, or unusually energized, say so at the evaluation.
How an evaluation works
From the first request to a treatment plan.
- 01
Send a request or call
Use the request form or call the office. Staff contact you to arrange the evaluation; a request alone does not book an appointment.
- 02
Your mood history, not just today
When you come for an evaluation, the team assesses symptoms of depression, mania, and hypomania. Because bipolar disorder is diagnosed from the severity, length, and frequency of symptoms over a lifetime (NIMH), it helps to think back over past highs and lows before the visit. A partner or relative who has seen the changes may help you remember them.
- 03
The rest of the picture
Mood, anxiety, sleep, alcohol and substance use, medical history, and current medications are reviewed. Some health conditions, such as thyroid disease, can cause symptoms like bipolar disorder, and some prescribed, recreational, or illicit drugs can mimic or worsen mood symptoms (NIMH).
- 04
Treatment options
Treatments the practice lists for bipolar disorder include medications (mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants) and individual or group psychotherapy. NIMH notes that an antidepressant is added to a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic, not used on its own (NIMH).
- 05
Follow-up visits
Treatment is adjusted over regular visits, in person in Cranford or by telehealth when that fits, based on mood, side effects, and daily functioning.
To make the first visit count, bring:
- Every medication and supplement you take, with doses
- Psychiatric medications you have tried, what helped, and the side effects
- Any hospital stays, earlier diagnoses, or psychiatric records you still have
- Family members with bipolar disorder, depression, or substance use, if you know
- A mood journal or calendar, if you keep one
- Your insurance card, or questions about self-pay
Treatment options
Medication, therapy, or both.
Mental health professionals treat bipolar disorder with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination, and treatment helps many people, even with the most severe forms (NIMH).
Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics
Mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate can help prevent mood episodes or make them less severe, and lithium can lower the risk of suicide. Atypical antipsychotics are the other common choice. Some people try more than one before finding what works (NIMH). The practice lists mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants among its bipolar treatments. Medication management
Antidepressants, with care
For a depressive episode, an antidepressant may be added to a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic. It is not used alone, because it can trigger mania or rapid cycling. Never stop a medication without talking to your prescriber first (NIMH).
Psychotherapy
Used with medication, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, family-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (including CBT for insomnia) can help (NIMH). The practice offers individual therapy with its licensed social workers and therapists. Psychotherapy
Brain stimulation
NIMH names ECT and TMS among other treatments for bipolar disorder (NIMH). The FDA classifies TMS devices for major depressive disorder (FDA), so TMS for bipolar depression is off-label; ask whether it fits you. TMS for bipolar depression: FDA status and research
Routine and follow-through
NIMH advises keeping appointments, taking treatment as directed, keeping a regular routine for eating, sleeping, and exercise, avoiding alcohol and drugs, and keeping a mood journal to recognize mood swings.
Help for family
Partners and relatives can offer patience and practical help, such as rides to appointments, and stay alert to major mood changes (NIMH).
Who you will see
Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
The practice’s psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners are listed below; its licensed social workers and therapists provide therapy. The practice is led by Dr. Salvatore G. Savatta, who is board certified in adult psychiatry. Azuka Ofodike, APN, lists bipolar disorder among the conditions she treats.
- Salvatore G. Savatta, MD · Adult and forensic psychiatrist
- Orrin Main, MD · Psychiatrist
- Eugene Otchere, MSN, PMHNP, APN · Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
- Telatha Surujnath, MSN, PMHNP · Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
- Azuka Ofodike, APN · Psychiatric nurse practitioner
Ask the office which clinician you will see. Meet the full care team
Listed insurance plans
Plans the practice lists.
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Medicare
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare / Oxford
This list is not a guarantee of coverage. Confirm participation and benefits with the practice and your plan. Insurance and access · Starting as a new patient · What a psychiatrist costs in NJ
When other conditions come too
One practice for mood, attention, and anxiety.
Anxiety disorders and ADHD often occur alongside bipolar disorder, and people with bipolar II may first seek help only for depression (NIMH). The practice lists all of these among its services.
Common questions
Questions adults ask about bipolar disorder care.
How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
A health care provider may do a physical exam and order medical tests to rule out other illnesses. Bipolar disorder is diagnosed from the severity, length, and frequency of your symptoms and experiences over your lifetime, and your family history (NIMH).
Is bipolar disorder the same as depression?
No. Bipolar disorder also includes manic or hypomanic episodes. Many people with bipolar II first seek help only for depression, so the highs go unnoticed. That matters, because an antidepressant used alone can trigger mania or rapid cycling in bipolar disorder (NIMH).
What medications treat bipolar disorder?
The most common are mood stabilizers, such as lithium or valproate, and atypical antipsychotics. Some people need to try more than one before finding what works. Antidepressants are sometimes added for a depressive episode but are not used alone (NIMH). Ask your prescriber about the risks and benefits of each option.
Can therapy help with bipolar disorder?
Yes, alongside medication. NIMH names interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, family-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, including CBT for insomnia, as helpful when used with medication. The practice offers psychotherapy as well as medication care.
Is TMS used for bipolar depression?
The FDA classifies TMS devices for the treatment of major depressive disorder, so using TMS for bipolar depression is off-label (FDA product code OBP). The practice’s article on TMS for bipolar depression explains the research and the mania question; ask about it at an evaluation.
Do you treat teenagers with bipolar disorder?
No. Labyrinth Psychiatry Group treats adults only. For a child or teenager, ask your pediatrician for a referral to a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Will my insurance cover bipolar disorder treatment?
It depends on your plan. The practice lists Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, TRICARE, and UnitedHealthcare / Oxford; confirm your own benefits with the office and your plan before the visit.
What if I am in crisis right now?
Do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. In a life-threatening situation, call 911.
Service details
What to know about this care.
Almost 3% of adults in the United States have bipolar disorder, which causes extreme highs and lows in energy and emotions. The adult psychiatrists at Labyrinth Psychiatry Group in Cranford, New Jersey, carefully evaluate patients before diagnosing bipolar disorder and treating its symptoms. To learn more about bipolar disorder or book an evaluation, call Labyrinth Psychiatry Group right away. Telehealth visits are available.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, meaning it affects the way you feel. More specifically, it causes your emotions to shift dramatically and go through vastly different phases.
These shifts in mood can cause difficulty at home, work, school, or among peers and loved ones in other places. Most people start to get symptoms around age 25, but you can start noticing the extreme ups and downs of bipolar disorder earlier or later in life.
The team at Labyrinth Psychiatry Group offers evidence-based diagnostic evaluations for bipolar disorder and several therapeutic options for bipolar disorder management.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder signs and symptoms have two categories: depression and mania. Depressive symptoms are the “lows,” and manic symptoms are the “highs.” Episodes of depression tend to last for at least two weeks, and manic episodes are usually shorter and, in some ways, riskier.
When you come to Labyrinth Psychiatry Group for an evaluation, the team assesses symptoms of depression, mania, and a third category called hypomania:
Depression
Depressive symptoms must include intense sadness or loss of interest in normal activities and topics, coupled with other symptoms that vary from person to person. You might experience insomnia, fatigue, guilt, or suicidal thoughts during these periods.
Mania
Mania causes high spirits and high energy. During manic episodes, people report feeling invincible and motivated. Other likely symptoms include fast speech, racing thoughts, little sleep, and impulsivity.
Hypomania
Hypomania, a less intense form of mania, does not occur for everyone with bipolar disorder. During hypomanic periods, you might experience some euphoria and motivation but not enough to affect your schoolwork, work, or relationships.
How is bipolar disorder treated?
Treating bipolar disorder is a specialty at Labyrinth Psychiatry Group. After your initial evaluation and diagnosis, the team collaborates on an individualized treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms, so they don’t have as large of an impact on your life, productivity, and relationships.
You might need to try a few strategies, or combinations of treatments, before finding one that works well for you. Treatments that often work well in bipolar disorder management are:
- Medications (e.g., mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants)
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group psychotherapy
- Neurofeedback
- Neuromodulation
- Lifestyle changes (e.g., a set eating and sleeping routine, journaling)
During your time in treatment with Labyrinth Psychiatry Group, you can check in with in-person visits or convenient telehealth visits that you can access from anywhere. That reduces office visits and travel time while keeping you in consistent contact with your mental health care providers.
Schedule your consultation for bipolar disorder evaluation and treatment by calling Labyrinth Psychiatry Group today.
We offer Spravato Therapy, also known as Eskatimine. Call us to book your appt today.