Bipolar disorder 1 & II

Question 1

What is the Prevalence of Bipolar Disorder?

Answer 1

• Experienced by 1-2% Australians over their lifetime
• Equal for males and females
• Peak age of onset is 15 to19 years (ABS, 2009)
• 9th highest burden of all diseases in Australia

Question 2

What are the Biological Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

Answer 2

• Decreased need for sleep
• Increase in energy levels and appetite
• Libido may rise

Question 3

What are the Psychological Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

Answer 3

• Irritable mood
• Low frustration tolerance
• Emotionally labile
• Inflated self esteem
• Poor concentration & memory
• Delusions
• Impaired judgment

Question 4

Social Symptoms:

Answer 4

• Increase in impulsivity
• Hyperactive
• More talkative, pressured speech, louder
• Problems with work, social or family life

Question 5

Course & Prognosis of Bipolar Disorder include?

Answer 5

• People with bipolar 1 disorder have a poorer prognosis
• Mean age at onset of is approximately 18 years for bipolar 1 disorder
• Most often starts with depression
• Experience both depressive and manic episodes (10-20% only manic)
• 7% of people do not have a recurrence of symptoms; 45% have more than one episode; 40% have a chronic disorder
• Only 50-60% of people achieve significant control of their symptoms with medication
• People can have between 1-30 manic episodes; mean number is 9

Question 6

Diagnostic Criteria:

Answer 6

Three + of the following symptoms:

• ↑ self-esteem or grandiosity.
• ↓ need for sleep
• ↑ talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking.
• Flight of ideas
• Distractibility
• ↑ in goal-directed activity

Question 7

Manic Episode:

Answer 7

• period of abnormally
• persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
• ↑ goal-directed activity or energy
• lasting at least 1 week and present most of the day

Question 8

Hospital - Inpatient admission

Answer 8

• Safety & containment
• Severity of symptoms or lack of 
insight
• Clarify diagnosis or alter management/ medication
• Monitor physical health and /or substance use

Question 9

Antidepressant Medication:

Answer 9

↑ the levels of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine) in the limbic system.
- 6 wks after the 1st dose of medication before it has an antidepressant effect

Question 10

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Answer 10

Induced seizure through electrode placement; neuronal activity spreads throughout the brain produces significant neurochemical changes that act to normalise mood

Question 11

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Answer 11

• Identify unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are thought to maintain depression.
• As effective as antidepressant medication

Question 12

Internet Based Interventions

Answer 12

• evidence-based psychological interventions for mood disorders
• cost & time efficient

Question 13

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

Answer 13

• Crisis planning
• Post Crisis planning
• Daily Maintenance Plan
• Wellness toolbox
• Triggers
• When things are breaking down
• Early warning signs