Essay on bipolar disorder

Currently the best treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of medical medicine along with therapy and counseling. The medicines used to treat bipolar disorder are grouped together in three categories: Anticonvulsants, Antidepressants, and Antipsychotics. Each medicine is prescribed to the patient according to the symptoms the individual is experiencing. Each bipolar disorder case is different and it is important to diagnose the patient properly in terms of medicine and counseling for better recovery results from the

Bipolar disorder, also commonly referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual and heightened swings in a person’s mood, energy level, and ability to function. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be severe and therefore, they are quite different from the normal shifts in mood that everyone goes through on a daily basis. The effects of bipolar disorder can result in broken relationships, poor performance at work or school, self-mutilation, and even suicide. However, in most instances, bipolar disorder can be treated and people with this illness can lead normal and productive lives with the help of medication and therapy.

With all being said, I have learned from video, Ride the Tiger: A Guide Through the Bipolar Brain, while medication is the foundation of bipolar disorder treatment, therapy and self-help strategies also play important

Bipolar Disorder is an affective disorder, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 2013), as including both episodes of major depressive disorder and at least one either manic or hypomanic episode in the course of one’s lifetime. Regardless of individual disorder specifiers, or the distinction between Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders, it is a recurrent disorder that requires long-term psychopharmacology as the main source of treatment to prevent condition relapse or deterioration (Hayes et Al., 2016; Sylvia et Al., 2014). According to Preston, Talaga, and O’Neal, 2017) the medications of Lithium and Divalproex (Depakote) are recommended as the 2 primary options for

Bipolar disorder is a mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. It is typically treated with a combination of mood stabilizers and antidepressants. It can take a patient and their doctor a long time to find the right combination of medications to effectively treat their bipolar disorder. Some individuals do not find much comfort in any level of the traditional medications and continue to struggle with their depression. Recently, scientists have been looking into newer ways to help treat bipolar disorder. Two of these new treatments for helping people suffering from bipolar depression are the use of ketamine and olanzapine.

“The evidence is so strongly compelling that bipolar [disorder] is a largely biologic-based disorder that pharmacologic intervention is the mainstay of treatment,” (p.111) It is crucial to find a wide assortment of ways in order to treat this disorder because every case of the illness varies from patient to patient. In some cases, a medication that works efficiently for a group of patients may have little to no effect or adverse effects to another group of patients. It is important to utilize psychotherapies such as cognitive, behavioral, and psychoeducational approaches in order to supplement the prescribed medications, as medications cannot “teach” the patient different coping skills like therapy can. Even though medication alone is not always the most effective way of treating patients, “some of the most convincing evidence in favor of a biological etiology remains the relatively good response to pharmacotherapy and the extremely poor response to purely psychological interventions,” (p. 110). In turn, those patients have a better probability to enter into remission and transition into more productive and higher quality

For some people with bipolar disorder a routine is an essential part of their day to day life, therefore an upset of routine because of an episode may worsen the episode or increase the likelihood of it happening again. If a person with bipolar does not have the ability to cope or the medical intervention in the illness the problems that can arise from relapsing include employment difficulties, marriage problems, alcohol or drug abuse, and a higher risk of suicide than the general population (Dinan, 2002).

This disease is life long, even when you feel better treatment is still needed. When you seek help from your doctor medication is prescribed to level your mood, when successful the doctor will discuss long-term approaches. Seeking counseling can help, there’s also psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation. If you want to take a natural approach there’s alternative medicine, the more common ones are Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Magnesium, and St. Johns Wort. There are many ways to get help and seek treatment and the sooner the better before this disease gets

Bipolar disorder is defined as a mood disorder that causes drastic emotional changes and mood swings. These mood swings can range from manic highs, to depressive lows. It is also characterized by severe changes in mood. Bipolar

Electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, is one of the alternatives to lithium, though not the most favorable largely due to its negative affiliations as well as its side effects. Developed in 1938, this type of therapy involves an electrical impulse sent through the brain (Mood Disorders Association of BC). These impulses result in short seizures (Hauser). A patient usually resorts to this type of treatment if they have not responded well to medication or other treatments or if their symptoms are severe. There are many questionable factors in this type of therapy. A patient resorting to this type of treatment runs many risks not only in the effects it may have on their body but the equipment used for the procedure. One of the dangers could involve the malfunction of the ECT machine used for the procedure. Due to the fact that this is not a drug but an actual physical procedure, a patient must be given anesthesia. As with major surgeries, the patient runs the risk of being given an ineffective amount of anesthesia. Just as with other medication for mental illnesses, ECT has neurological side effects as well. Among these side effects are those in the cognitive areas of the brain, including memory. After the therapy has been executed, the patient will not remember the events surrounding the procedure (Mental Health America). The most common

It is of utmost importance that a patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder is medicated and followed up accordingly, to ensure an effective treatment. In order to do this, it is important to differentiate bipolar disorder from other diagnoses, e.g. attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. Likewise, comorbid conditions need to be taken into account. All of this needs to be considered to make sure the patient receive appropriate treatment in connection to diagnosis and symptoms. (Herlofson & Adler,

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness affects about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population (8). It is defined by fluctuating states of depression and mania throughout ones life. Those who are depressed may be restless, irritable, have slowed thinking or speech, decreased sexual activity, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, suicidal thoughts as well as other changes. Those in a manic state may have increased activity or energy, more thoughts and faster thinking, grandiose thoughts, decreased sleep and need for sleep, increased sexual activity, elated mood, irritable mood, as well as other symptoms. Mixed state is when both depression and mania are exhibited at the same time in a cycle. Rapid cycling

“The main concern is that children whose behavior only superficially matches the bipolar checklist get treated with antipsychotic drugs, which can succeed in calming them down, even if the diagnosis is wrong. These drugs can have unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects.” Depending on the person’s mental health diagnosis, other medications can be used to alleviate symptoms. Lithium is a mood stabilizer used to reduce the risk of suicidal thoughts. Lithium reduces the risk of suicide by 60% in comparison to other medications.” Lithium is simply a salt that has been used since the 1950’s according to Dr. R. Chacko MD, professor of psychiatry at Houston Methodist Hospital”. Many other antipsychotic medications are now available for different cases of bipolar disorder. "For treatment of depressive bipolar episodes, mood stabilizers are preferred to antidepressants because antidepressants may cause a switch into a manic episode or aggravate irritability in mixed-symptom mania. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is not a mood stabilizer, but may have antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects." Anticonvulsants have been established as having anti-manic or antidepressant properties that are sometimes considered experimental treatments in bipolar disorder. Never the less patients are encouraged to be consistent with taking their medications at all times in order to

The Anti-epileptic drugs can suppress mania and/or depression and stabilize mood in a patient with BPD. Drugs including, divalproes sodium, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine