Physical Exam & Psychiatric Assessment
Patients undergo a physical exam so that professionals can see how other medical conditions might be contributing to their symptoms. A physical exam might include vital sign checks, a visual exam, and other laboratory procedures and assessments such as testing motor functions.
After the physical exam, patients undergo a psychiatric assessment. This entails an initial conversation with a psychiatrist, who will examine a patients behavior patterns, emotional responses, and history. In some cases, professionals may request family members to provide additional health information.
In Children And Adults
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual lists the same symptoms of bipolar disorder for children and adults. Bipolar disorder may include psychotic features.
Bipolar disorder and psychosis are difficult to diagnose, particularly in children and teens. A psychiatrist needs to confirm that the behaviors they are exhibiting are not due to other factors.
Other causes of symptoms could include:
- everyday highs and lows, the result of stress that is common in teens
- another mental health problem
However, if a child or a teen shows signs of psychosis or experiences changes in mood that are more severe than usual for their age group, it is important to consult a doctor.
A person may experience the following:
These symptoms can occur during episodes of mania, depression, or during a mixed episode, when a person with bipolar disorder shows signs of both a low and high mood.
They can cause the person to behave in unusual ways, and this can impact their relationships with others, whether in their personal life, at work, or in other situations.
If the person believes they are very important, they may behave in ways that are outside the law. In some cases, this can lead to aggression, for example, if someone confronts the person.
An individual who believes that they have committed a crime or that someone is coming after them may become defensive or talk about suicide.
Also Check: How Many Panic Attacks In A Day
How Is Bipolar Disorder Treated
Treatment can help many people, including those with the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. An effective treatment plan usually includes a combination of the following therapies:
- Psychotherapy .
- Self-management strategies, like education and identifying the early symptoms of an episode or possible triggers of episodes.
- Helpful lifestyle habits, such as exercise, yoga and meditation. These can support, but not replace, treatment.
- Other therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy in cases that are poorly responsive to medication or where rapid control of symptoms is necessary to prevent harm.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, so treatment is a lifelong commitment. It can sometimes take several months to years before you and your healthcare provider find a comprehensive treatment plan that works best for you. Although this can be discouraging, its important to continue treatment.
Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder dont have mood changes, but some people may have lingering symptoms. Long-term, continuous treatment can help manage these symptoms.
Again, even though it may be difficult to treat these conditions, its not impossible. Be sure to stay committed to finding a treatment plan that works for you.
Recommended Reading: Medication For Depression Anxiety And Anger
Suicide And Treatment With Antidepressants
Suicide cannot be treated but only prevented . Research on treatments aimed at suicide prevention, not surprisingly, is very limited because of clinical and ethical problems arising if an inactive or ineffective treatment, such as placebo, were compared to an experimental intervention, with death as a potential outcome. In addition, it is virtually impossible to know when a suicide has been prevented, whereas suicidal acts or surrogate measures can be counted. Rarity of suicide, even among psychiatric patients, encourages research reliance on more prevalent measures related to suicide, including suicidal ideation, threats, self-injurious acts, or emergency interventions. However, the typically distant relationship of such measures to suicide limits their value in testing for therapeutic effects on suicide itself. Relating treatments to suicidal risks is further complicated by uncertain long-term adherence to recommended treatments . Treatments for BD considered for possible suicide-prevention include antidepressants, anticonvulsants and lithium, antipsychotics, ECT, and psychosocial interventions .
Table 3 Treatments aimed at reducing suicidal risk in bipolar disorder patients
Medication Treatment For Bipolar Disorder
Most people with bipolar disorder need medication in order to keep their symptoms under control. When medication is continued on a long-term basis, it can reduce the frequency and severity of bipolar mood episodes, and sometimes prevent them entirely. If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you and your doctor will work together to find the right drug or combination of drugs for your needs. Because everyone responds to medication differently, you may have to try several different medications before you find one that relieves your symptoms.
Check in frequently with your doctor. Its important to have regular blood tests to make sure that your medication levels are in the therapeutic range. Getting the dose right is a delicate balancing act. Close monitoring by your doctor will help keep you safe and symptom-free.
Continue taking your medication, even if your mood is stable. Dont stop taking your medication as soon as you start to feel better. Most people need to take medication long-term in order to avoid relapse.
Dont expect medication to fix all your problems. Bipolar disorder medication can help reduce the symptoms of mania and depression, but in order to feel your best, its important to lead a lifestyle that supports wellness. This includes surrounding yourself with supportive people, getting therapy, and getting plenty of rest.
Recommended Reading: Clinical Depression In Young Adults
Considerations Of Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment for patients with bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness , has 4 major goals, as follows:
Look at areas of stress and find ways to handle them: The stresses can stem from family or work, but if they accumulate, they propel the person into mania or depression this is a form of psychotherapy
Monitor and support the medication: Medications make an incredible difference, and the key is to obtain the benefits while avoiding adverse effects patients are ambivalent about their medicationsalthough they recognize that the drugs help and prevent hospitalizations, they also resent that they need them the goal is to address their feelings and allow them to continue with the medications
Develop and maintain the therapeutic alliance: This is one of the many reasons for the practitioner to deal with the patients ambivalence about the medications over time, the strength of the alliance helps keep the patients symptoms at a minimum and helps the patient remain in the community
Provide education : The clinician must help educate both the patient and the family about bipolar illness patients and families need to be aware of the dangers of substance abuse, the situations that would lead to relapse, and the essential role of medications support groups for patients and families are of tremendous importance
-
Patient self-management support
Donât Miss: What Is The Phobia For Bees
Causes & Risk Factors
The precise causes of bipolar disorder are unknown. However, there is strong evidence that biological factors, including genetics, play an important role. Stress or difficult family relationships do not cause the illness. However, these factors may trigger an episode in someone who already has the illness.
Also Check: How To Deal With Depression And Lack Of Motivation
How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed
When it comes down to the ways to prevent bipolar disorder or even cure the condition, it is important to ensure that you keep an eye out on some of the factors involved.
You just expect for everything to come up and signify its presence, when that is not necessarily the case. When it comes to the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, the possibilities are quite extensive and one that you possible didnt have any idea about.
This is the reason why it is important to keep an eye out on the signs and symptoms to prevent the situation from getting worse than it already is.
How To Create Mental Health Wellbeing When Theres No Cure For Bipolar Depression
Even though theres no bipolar depression cure, this collection of actions and attitudes can help you manage your symptoms of bipolar depression when they strike and keep depression at bay for long stretches at a time.
- Take your medication as prescribed, even when you feel better
- Engage in mental health therapy to build skills and change automatic negative thoughts
- Create and follow daily routines because routines help you keep doing what you need to do even when depression tries to keep you down
- Make rituals, such as sitting mindfully with a cup of tea every morning or evening, because rituals are comforting
- Exercise even when the only thing you can do is walk slowly from one room to the next in your house every little bit brings benefits, but do stretch yourself just a little bit more each day
- Feed your brain well, avoiding processed, unhealthy foods and eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and other healthy foods
- Identify interests and passions, and do them regardless of what your depression is up to
- Find and appreciate beauty when nothing seems beautiful, look anyway, and when you do notice beauty in your world, love it fully
- Practice mindfulness, using your senses to pay attention to the present moment
There is no bipolar depression cure. There will be, however, long periods of remission. With the above tips to guide you, whether your symptoms are present or absent, youll be mentally healthy and live a life well-lived.
Recommended Reading: How To Motivate Someone Who Is Depressed
What Is The Outlook Of Bipolar Disorder
The prognosis for bipolar disorder is often poor unless its properly treated. Many people with bipolar disorder who receive appropriate treatment can live fulfilling and productive lives.
Bipolar disorder results in approximately nine years reduction in expected life span, and as many as1 in 5 people with bipolar disorder commit suicide. An estimated 60% of all people with bipolar disorder have drug or alcohol dependence.
This is why its essential to seek medical care and stay committed to treatment for bipolar disorder.
Regular and continued use of medication can help reduce episodes of mania and depression. By knowing how to recognize the symptoms and triggers of these episodes, theres a better chance for effective treatment and finding coping methods that may prevent long periods of illness, extended hospital stays and suicide.
Natural Treatments To Help Manic Depression
Bipolar disorder can be progressive and worsen over time when left undiagnosed. Some people wind up having more drastic mood swings/episodes, and more frequently, as time goes on and symptoms are not treated. Although it cannot be cured entirely in most cases, managing symptoms can prevent frequent mood swings and suicidal, destructive behaviors.
Just like with clinical depression or anxiety, many doctors choose to control bipolar disorder using medications . However, there are many effective natural treatments that can also help control symptoms of manic or depressive phases, and these have practically zero negative side effects, unlike psychotropic drugs.
Treatment for depression and bipolar disorder has come a long way, and today many individuals are able to receive help that significantly improves their quality of life, relationships, levels of independence and ability to live happy lives. Even when medication is used, these treatment options below can help stabilize the condition and improve recovery.
1. Education and Medical Care
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one type of therapy that has shown promise for naturally managing bipolar disorder episodes. CBT can help you start to recognize underlying thought patterns that trigger mood swings be attentive to your feelings, body sensations and emotions before they turn into more severe symptoms and help you to learn to reach out for help when you notice youre in a difficult frame of mind .
2. Exercise
Recommended Reading: Do I Have Seasonal Depression
What Does It Mean To Be Bipolar
Once called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration and an inability to carry out daily tasks. Moods can range from highs where you feel extremely energized, elated or unusually irritable to lows which can lead to sadness, indifference, or hopelessness.1
Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, its possible to manage mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan that, in most cases, includes medications and psychotherapy.
In general, bipolar disorder is much better controlled if treatment is continuous and tailored to each person since different people respond to treatment in different ways, says Diana Samuel, MD, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center. The combination of psychotherapy and medications together tends to be more effective, providing improvement in symptoms sooner.
Read Also: What Is The Meaning Of Phobia
Complementary Bipolar Treatments: A Few Words Of Caution
âThe reality is that there is not a lot of data on complementary therapies for bipolar disorder,â Muskin says. âThat doesnât mean these products shouldnât be used, but when patients try to find out about them, they shouldnât expect to be able to go to like The New England Journal of Medicine and download a lot of articles.â
Muskin recommends ConsumerLab as a reputable site where people can go to research complementary therapies. âYou can find out whether or not the product youâre buying really contains the product you think it does, as well as what itâs indicated for and whether it has contaminants,â he says. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements also provides an extensive online database of dietary supplements that includes detailed product and manufacturer information.
Most of these therapies are safe, and there is limited evidence of negative interactions with prescription medications. Regardless, patients and their family members should actively research these products and discuss options with a psychiatrist before taking them, especially because complementary therapies do not undergo the same strict review process as pharmaceutical medications.
Additional Reporting by Madeline Vann, MPH.
Read Also: How To Deal With Anger Anxiety And Depression
Coping With Bipolar Disorder
Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to help make it easier for yourself, a friend, or a loved one.
- Get treatment and stick with itrecovery takes time and its not easy. But treatment is the best way to start feeling better.
- Keep medical and therapy appointments, and talk with the provider about treatment options.
- Take all medicines as directed.
- Structure activities: keep a routine for eating and sleeping, and make sure to get enough sleep and exercise.
- Learn to recognize your mood swings.
- Ask for help when trying to stick with your treatment.
- Be patient improvement takes time. Social support helps.
Remember, bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, but long-term, ongoing treatment can help control symptoms and enable you to live a healthy life.
You May Like: Does Celine Dion Have An Eating Disorder
How To Cope With Bipolar Disorder
No matter how down or out of control you feel, its important to remember that youre not powerless when it comes to bipolar disorder. Beyond the treatment you get from your doctor or therapist, there are many things you can do for yourself to reduce your symptoms and stay on track.
Living well with bipolar disorder requires certain adjustments. Like diabetics who take insulin or recovering alcoholics who avoid drinking, if you have bipolar disorder, its important to make healthy choices for yourself. Making these healthy choices will help you keep your symptoms under control, minimize mood episodes, and take control of your life.
Managing bipolar disorder starts with proper treatment, including medication and therapy. But there is so much more you can do to help yourself on a day-to-day basis. These tips can help you influence the course of your illness, enabling you to take greater control over your symptoms, to stay well longer, and to quickly rebound from any mood episode or relapse.
Recommended Reading: What To Do If I Have Anxiety And Depression
Family And Psychosocial Issues
Significant issues for the patient and family members include the stigma that is frequently associated with mental illness and the need for support and education. Because patients with bipolar disorder lose judgment early in the course of the illness and often engage in high-risk behavior, family members may be interacting with the legal system, the police and the health care system simultaneously. Guilt, anger, grief and ambivalence are frequent feelings among family members as they cope with the difficulties.
Family members must be educated about possible relapses, what to look for and how to handle different situations. The recklessness that accompanies mania can have devastating consequencesincluding sexually transmitted diseases, financial ruin, traumatic injuries and accidents. Risk-taking causes significant distress to patients and families, and such behavior is a problem for which family physicians, psychiatrists and mental health professionals can intervene with appropriate medical, preventive, educational and social strategies .23 Initial intervention includes education for the patient and family, including informational pamphlets, videos and involvement in support and patient advocacy groups.
Psychosocial Issues to Address in the Acute and Maintenance Phases of Bipolar Disorder
Acute phase
Adapted with permission from Steering Committee. Treatment of bipolar disorder. The Expert Consensus Guideline Series. J Clin Psychiatry 1996 57:388.
Acute phase
Natural Bipolar Treatments: Treatment Of Bipolar Without Medication
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness characterized by episodes of extremely elevated and depressed emotion. Bipolar disorder is a brain illness commonly treated with psychotropic medication, like mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications .
Many people with bipolar disorder will always require medication management of their illness. However, there are natural bipolar treatments that make use of techniques outside of pharmacological drugs. These natural bipolar treatments can be used with or without bipolar medication, but no changes should be made to any treatment plan without first consulting a doctor.
You May Like: Depression How To Deal With It