Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Bipolar disorder (BP) constitutes a psychiatric disorder characterized by abnormally elevated moods and periods of depression. Mania and depression periods, two inherent mood BP phases, are manifested in abnormally energetic and happy feelings and, in another case, a negative outlook on life. The bipolar disorder lowers the quality of life and affects all aspects of it, the social interaction in particular. In this work, the BP, its symptoms, and the disorder treatment will be considered.

Bipolar disorder may be diagnosed with a range of specific symptoms. Apart from the unusually elevated feeling of happiness and satisfaction, the individual may experience irritability, as well. In the case of the depression period, the individual experiences crying, anxiety, rejects a positive perspective on life and avoids eye contact. The risk of suicide is extremely high during this period (Muneer 15). The individual may also engage in self-harm or substance use disorder.

Currently, the BP treatment mainly includes addressing acute episodes with medication and working with the patient on an ongoing basis to prevent further episodes. The treatment measures may consist of psychotherapy, to elaborate the methods to manage stress, and medication, to cope with acute episodes. The atypical antipsychotics, indicated initially for schizophrenia, were later widely used for treating depressive, manic, and mixed episodes of BD (Muneer 26). These medications are commonly used for short-term treatment to affect the one phase of the disorder.

The atypical antipsychotics address the symptoms of manic and mixed episodes of BP, quickly reducing one’s abnormally elevated positive feelings. However, the medication, as a rule, does not treat depression episodes. Therefore, on the one hand, the medicine lowers the unnatural feeling of happiness and normalizes one’s cognitive function, which leads to further reducing of conflicts with the family members, friends, and colleagues (Muneer 19). On the other, it does not change such symptoms of depression episodes as anxiety or crying; it does not reduce the possibility of self-harm.

BP, a psychiatric disorder with abnormally elevated moods and periods of depression, lowers the quality of life and affects all aspects of it. In particular, social interaction may be strongly affected since the symptoms of the disorder usually are manifest themselves during social activities. To reduce the emotional activity, one may use the atypical antipsychotics. However, they are only effective for the treatment of manic and mixed episodes.

Work Cited

Muneer, A. “Understanding Depression. Major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder: Differentiating features and contemporary treatment approaches.” Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd, vol. 10, no. 10, 2018. Web.