Bipolar Disorder

Question 1

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by what three different mood states?

Answer 1

(1) Mania
(2) Hypomania
(3) Major depression

Question 2

What phase of Bipolar disorder?
A distinct period of abnormally or persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and persistently increased activity or energy, lasting at least one week and present most of the day, nearly every day
(2) Three or more of the following symptoms present
-a) Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
-(b) Decreased need for sleep
-(c) More talkative than usual or pressured speech
-(d) Flight of ideas/racing thoughts
-(e) Distractibility (easily distracted by stimuli)
-(f) Increased goal directed activity
-(g) Involvement in activities that carry negative potential (spending sprees, sexual indiscretions)

Answer 2

Mania

Question 3

What does the “DIG FAST” acronym stand for?
What is if for?

Answer 3

D - Distractibility
I - Indiscretions
G - Grandiosity
F - Flight of ideas
A - Activity increase
S - Sleeplessness
T – Talkativeness
-used to remember the symptoms of mania

Question 4

What phase of bipolar disorder?
(1) Similar characteristics of mania only far less severe
(2) No delusional grandiosity
(3) Thought form is more organized
-(a) Quick and creative thinking is common
-(b) Often times more productive than usual, compared to the racing thoughts of manic
episode
(4) Easier to engage in conversation
-(a) Less interruptions and easier to interrupt
(5) Less risky behavior
(6) No psychotic symptoms
(7) No hallucinations (false sensory perceptions) or delusions (false, fixed beliefs)

Answer 4

Hypomania

Question 5

What phase of bipolar disorder?
Five or more of the following symptoms present during the same two week period
(a) Depressed mood (sad, empty, hopelessness)
(b) Diminished interest in pleasurable activities
(c) Weight loss or weight gain
(d) Insomnia or hypersomnia
(e) Psychomotor agitation (tapping, fidgeting, pacing, hand-wringing) or retardation
(reduced physical movements and slowing of thoughts)
(f) Decreased energy
(g) Guilt or feelings of worthlessness
(h) Impaired concentration
(i) Thoughts of death or thoughts of suicide

Answer 5

Major depression

Question 6

IDC management of Bipolar Disorder

Answer 6

Immediately refer and manage acute symptoms while awaiting referral
(a) If agitated may try to talk them down or give an antipsychotic medication for assistance
–1) Haloperidol if needed prior to MEDEVAC

Question 7

Maintenance therapy meds for bipolar disorder

Answer 7

a) Lithium
b) Valproic acid
c) Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
d) Quetiapine (Seroquel)