Bipolar Disorder in Women

Bipolar Disorder in Women

Manic-depressive disorder or bipolar is a severe, frequent, and recurrent mood disorder linked with great morbidity (Müller-Oerlinghausen, Berghöfer & Bauer, 2002). Researchers have found that it is severe and difficult to treat variants of bipolar disorder among women. Due to the high recurrence risk, patients with bipolar disorder need to have a sustainable prophylactic pharmacological treatment and maintain a healthy lifestyle (Müller-Oerlinghausen, Berghöfer & Bauer, 2002).

Like depression, primary preventive actions include eating a balanced diet, getting an eight-hour sleep at night, and exercising. These practices help minimize the mood swings that women experience mainly because of hormonal changes and other factors. Failing to manage these mood swings can result in mania.

The secondary measures that I can take to prevent bipolar include visiting a doctor or therapist for check-ups and avoiding alcohol, caffeine, or drug use. I would also engage in activities that reduce stress, such as regular physical exercise, meditation, and joining a social activity. Furthermore, I would go for a diagnostic evaluation to observe my clinical history. APA (2002) found that people with bipolar disorder often have depression symptoms like impulsivity, insomnia, agitation, substance use, irritability, and relationship issues. Therefore, I would ensure to keep in touch with my therapist or clinician for regular check-ups.

The tertiary measures that I may consider taking include visiting my therapist and adhering to the prescription, including therapy and medication. Medication for bipolar disorder helps manage mood changes and reduce the severity and frequency of depressive episodes and manic. The medication may include taking mood-stabilizing medicine or antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs. For instances of mixed or manic episodes, according to the mental health expert, the first-line pharmacological treatment for the intense mixed or manic episodes is lithium and antipsychotic plus initiation. If the symptoms were less severe, depending on the diagnosis, I would consider monotherapy with lithium or an antipsychotic like olanzapine or short-term adjunctive treatment that has benzodiazepine (APA, 2002).

In conclusion, since women often experience mood swings because of hormonal changes, psychological factors, and social factors, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential. This would entail eating well, exercising avoiding stress, and going for check-ups more often.

References

American Psychiatric Association (2002). Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder (revision). American Psychiatric Pub.

Müller-Oerlinghausen, B., Berghöfer, A., & Bauer, M. (2002). Bipolar disorder. The Lancet, 359(9302), 241-247.

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Write a reaction paper about the ONE mental health issue you think impacts women the most. What preventive actions can you take to limit this issue’s impact on you? Make sure you include:

Bipolar Disorder in Women

primary prevention: preventing the problem from occurring in the first place; specific primary prevention methods are mentioned
secondary prevention: screening for the mental health issue or treating it before symptoms begin to appear; specific screening or treatment methods are mentioned
tertiary prevention: treating the mental health issue once symptoms appear and a mental health issue has been diagnosed; specific treatment methods are mentioned
You will be graded on the following:
Your paper should contain an introduction, 3 to 4 paragraphs of content, and a closing paragraph.
Paragraphs should be at least 2 sentences but no more than 5 sentences.
Your paper should be double-spaced, 12-point font (Times Roman or Arial) with 1-inch margins.
Use complete sentences and correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Check the Rubric for specific criteria.