Mental Health condition
The aim of this account will be to cover the treatment of Bipolar disorder. It will also aim to look at the role of health professionals which may be involved in a treatment plan.
This disease used to be referred to as manic–depressive illness. People who are affected by this illness will experience extreme mood swings, along with many other specific Bipolar disorder symptoms and Bipolar behaviour (Bipolar symptoms.org 2010). There are different symptoms to look out for when considering a diagnosis for this condition, but there are two types of categorised symptoms to look out for. The first will be the depressive episode symptoms. The symptoms may be mild or severe, but it is important to recognise the signals as early as possible.
Seriously depressed people can sleep up to twenty hours a day, however it is important to remember that many people may not experience such a drastic symptom, but unusual patterns of sleep should be monitored in conjunction with the onset of other abnormal symptoms. Feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, despair, unusual worry, anger, anxiety, negativity, helplessness or hopelessness can last most or all of the day for several days (about.com 2010) in a patient suffering with Bipolar disorder. Feelings of depression can creep up slowly and descend quickly, making it very hard to notice, but should always be acted upon immediately.
The second category of symptoms can be prevalent with manic episodes of Bipolar, or mania. Symptoms to look for here can be a sudden onset of continuous energy on little hours of sleep, being easily distracted, restlessly looking for ways to work off extra energy (i.e. the continuous washing of a car), hyper sexuality, increased talkativeness, hostility, hallucinations or paranoid behaviour and many more. When a person is suffering from Bipolar disorder mania they will usually wear flamboyant or colourful clothing. It can also result in disastrous spending sprees (with credit cards etc) along with phone calls to nine hundred sex numbers (this is in relation to hyper sexuality and is a known symptom to Bipolar disorder).
It is important in recognising these symptoms in order for the person suffering with the disorder to be able to get the treatment they need. The role of healthcare professionals is important in the treatment of Bipolar disorder and it is treated similarly to other episodes of depression. This includes psychological therapy and antidepressant medication (netdoctor 2010). Usually, a general practitioner (GP) will decide whether the patient may be suffering with the disorder based on present symptoms and on the history of other episodes. If the GP or doctor decides it is necessary they will go on to plan treatment for the patient (this can include admittance to hospital). Depending on how severe the case is, some patients may only need psychotherapy and medication, however if admittance to hospital may be necessary. In a hospital environment, healthcare professionals may often use mood stabilising drugs during an acute manic depressive episode. These can also be used in long term preventative therapy, the aim of which is to prevent relapses (netdoctor 2010).
Because Bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, a long term preventative treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated by healthcare professionals (athealth 2002). With psychosocial treatment and medication, over time Bipolar disorder can be managed and most people can overcome dysfunction. It is important that healthcare professionals encourage the optimal treatment for this disorder in order for a treatment plan to be successful.
In conclusion, it can be seen that diagnosing Bipolar disorder can be arduous due to symptoms being quite difficult to recognise. However, once it has been diagnosed by the healthcare professional, it can be managed and treated with a combination of long term therapy and medication, drawing the conclusion that as long as healthcare professionals are meticulous in the treatment and are able to recognise Bipolar disorder, it can be successfully treated and managed.
