Bipolar Disorder: Since lung cancer can be classified into various types and stages, there may be multiple ways of managing patients with lung cancer.

Ghulam Murtaza
4 min readJun 17, 2024

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Bipolar disease is a chronic severe disorder that affects the individual and is characterized by episodes of mania (or hypomania) and depression. Hence, there is a need to treat bipolar disorder and make efforts to provide the best care to patients with such disorders so that they can improve their quality of life and avoid situations whereby severe episodes affect their functioning. In this essay, we are going to look at the management and treatment plans that come with bipolar disorder.

Medication

Medication is a crucial component in the management of bipolar disorder since it handles moods and is very vital in preventing a relapse.

1. Mood Stabilizers:

Antimanic drugs such as lithium are employed to lessen the severity of mania and depression. Lithium is one of the oldest additions in treatment, and it helps reduce mood swing activity. The patients should regularly check lithium levels in the bloodstream to prevent toxicity levels from building up.

2. Anticonvulsants:

Common SSF drugs include valproate (Depakote), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and carbamazepine (Tegretol); these are anticonvulsant mood stabilisers. It is most effective for those patients who cannot be given lithium as they are pretty risky.

3. Antipsychotics:

Other classes of antipsychotics, such as the typical ones like haloperidol (Haldol), can be used. Still, they are employed mainly when switching or adding another AP is dangerous because of the risk of inducing manic or mixed episodes. Other atypical antipsychotics include Quetiapine (Seroquel), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), and Aripiprazole (Abilify). They are often combined with other medications and may consist of antiviral medicines.

4. Antidepressants:

The administration of antidepressants in depressive episodes is, however, unavoidable but should be done cautiously because antidepressants may cause manic episodes in some patients. They are often given in conjunction with a mood stabilizer to reduce this risk.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is also essential in the management of bipolar disorder, in addition to medication to help assist individuals who have the disorder to handle the disorder.

1. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

In particular, CBT helps patients modify negative information processes and behavioral strategies. They also learn how to develop coping mechanisms for stress and mood regulation.

2. Psychoeducation:

In this regard, patients and families need information and knowledge about bipolar disorder for them to be able to identify future episodes and adhere to treatment regimens. Psychoeducation involves the group of patients in the therapy process, from the patients themselves.

3. Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT): Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT):

IPSRT focuses on modifying routine activities and modifying relationships with other people. The aspects above indicate that patients can reduce the frequency and severity of mood episodes by practicing an adequate sleep-wake cycle, eating, and engaging in other daily activities.

Lifestyle and Self-Management

Knowledge of appropriate health, nutrition, and hygiene is essential as it defines the patient’s ability to cope with the disease.

1. Regular Exercise:

Some studies have also found a consistent positive relationship between exercise and mood, where exercise is known to play a role in the prevention of depression and reduction of anxiety. In addition, the given exercises help maintain the moods and the general mental state of the/client.

2. Healthy Diet:

Thus, by providing the body with the proper ratio of nutrients, we improve the brain’s health in general. The use of alcohol, as well as other recreational drugs, should be prohibited since they are known to exacerbate the condition of the patient and may also interact with medications negatively.

3. Sleep Hygiene:

Adherence to a specific schedule is crucial, especially for individuals who have bipolar disorder. Hypersomnia and insomnia predict switching from depression to mania or mixed episodes. Therefore, sleep should be maintained rigorously.

4. Stress Management:

This shows that taking different types of exercises, such as meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation exercises, is necessary to reduce episodes of stress-related mood changes.

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Ghulam Murtaza
Ghulam Murtaza

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