Dance, Music, and Art Therapy

There is no proof that dance, music, or art therapy has curative value for people with bipolar disorders, but these activities often draw out hidden talents, bring a sense of joy and accomplishment, and help young children communicate nonverbally. They may be a part of a play therapy program, especially for older children. Sometimes dance, music, or art therapy is integrated into hospital or day-treatment programs.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) is intended to help people with fine motor skill problems or other impediments improve their ability to perform daily activities, ranging from walking to writing. Because young children with bipolar disorders sometimes have an erratic pattern of development due to their illness, occupational therapy may be recommended to address specific problem areas.

If the focus of OT is on school-related skills, such as handwriting, it should be available at no charge through your Early Intervention program or school district. OT services can be delivered via consultation with the child’s teacher, or directly to the child within the classroom or in an office.

Another type of OT focuses on self-care skills, vocational skills, esteem-building activities such as arts and crafts, and therapeutic exercise. Your child may have this kind of program in day treatment or in a hospital, or you might ask that it be added to her school program. This form of OT can be especially useful as part of transition planning in the teen years.

Sensory Integration

Sensory integration (SI) is a specific type of occupational therapy that can be invaluable for people whose sensory systems are unbalanced. Like the auditory processing problems described earlier in this chapter, sensory integration difficulties seem to be more common in people with bipolar disorders than the literature would indicate. These can include over- or undersensitivity to smell, taste, texture, types of touch, and even the forces of gravity.

Sensory integration therapy can help reduce or enhance sensitivity levels as needed. It is used with increasing frequency for children with other neurological problems, including cerebral palsy, autism, and ADHD, but has rarely been offered to bipolar children. If your child has symptoms of sensory dysfunction, ask about SI.

In bipolar disorders, sensory disturbances can be cyclical. A person in a manic phase may find that she has a heightened response to certain types of sensation. This increased sensitivity may be perceived as pleasurable, but in some cases it can be painful. Bipolar children seem to be especially sensitive to sensory input when they are in a depressed-irritable state, sometimes to the point of being unable to wear their usual clothes (jeans and socks are suddenly too scratchy), eat their regular diet (everything smells gross, tastes weird, and makes them feel like retching), or handle a normal level of sensory input (the sounds and smells of school or the shopping mall become rapidly overwhelming).

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 12 Jun 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.