Bipolar Disorder Assessment

Description of Bipolar Disorder

• Characterized by alternating episodes of mania and depression, with periods of normal mood in between.
• Mania incidence includes symptoms such as rapid anger, inflated self-esteem, and constant boundary-pushing.
• Euphoria manifests as intense well-being with a lack of inhibition and distractibility by environmental stimuli.
• Common behaviors during mania involve grandiose delusions, significant weight loss due to decreased appetite, and sleep disturbances due to involvement in seemingly more important activities.
• Individuals may exhibit high energy levels, inappropriate affect, and unusual attire, often leading to socially disruptive behavior.

Symptoms of Mania

• Emotional symptoms include high and unstable moods, inappropriate expressions, and restlessness.
• Cognitive effects consist of racing thoughts and pressured speech, often described as "flight of ideas."
• Behavioral aspects include hyperactivity, sexual promiscuity, and urgent motor activity.
• Visual and qualitative details frequently highlight bizarre or vibrant dress and excessive makeup.

Symptoms of Depression

• Changes in appetite can either increase or decrease, coupled with diminished daily functioning and low energy.
• Common emotional symptoms include hopelessness, self-isolation, poor concentration, and decision-making difficulties.
• May experience psychomotor retardation, reduced sexual interest, and suicidal thoughts.

Treatment and Management

• Lithium carbonate is the traditional medication of choice, but necessitates serum level monitoring to prevent toxicity; requires stable sodium and fluid intake (2 to 3 liters daily).
• Alternative medications include valproic acid (Depakote) and carbamazepine (Tegretol) for both acute manic episode management and ongoing maintenance.
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is often utilized for long-term maintenance therapy.
• Antianxiety medications aid in mitigating manic psychomotor agitation but should be used cautiously in individuals with a history of substance abuse.
• Atypical antipsychotics, including olanzapine (Zyprexa), aripiprazole (Abilify), and risperidone (Risperdal), are effective for their sedative and mood-stabilizing properties.