INSTRUCTIONS
In your role, as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you must develop strategies for properly assessing and diagnosing patients with bipolar and related disorders because treatments for bipolar and related disorders are significantly different from treatments for depression or other mood disorders.
This week, as you examine bipolar therapies, you explore the assessment and treatment of patients with bipolar and related disorders. You also consider the ethical, legal, cultural, and social health determinant implications of these diagnoses and treatment therapies.
Bipolar disorder is a unique disorder that causes shifts in mood and energy, which results in depression and mania for patients. Proper diagnosis of this disorder is often a challenge for two reasons: 1) patients often present as depressive or manic but may have both; and 2) many symptoms of bipolar disorder are similar to other disorders. Misdiagnosis is common, making it essential for you to have a deep understanding of the disorder’s pathophysiology. For this Assignment, as you examine the patient case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with bipolar disorder.
To prepare for this Assignment:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources, including the Medication Resources indicated for this week.
- Reflect on the psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for the assessment and treatment of patients requiring bipolar therapy.
For this assignment, you will write a 5–6-page paper on the topic of bipolar and bipolar and related disorders. You will create this guide as an assignment; therefore, a title page, introduction, conclusion, and reference page are required. You must include a minimum of 3 scholarly supporting resources outside of your course provided resources.
In your paper, you will choose one of the following diagnoses: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder, Substance/Medication-Induced Bipolar and Related Disorder, Bipolar and Related Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition. Your paper will include discussion for your chosen diagnosis of bipolar and related disorder on the following:
- Prevalence and Neurobiology of your chosen disorder
- Discuss the differences between your chosen disorder and one other bipolar and related disorders in relation to the diagnostic criteria including presentation of symptoms according to DSM 5 TR criteria
- Discuss special populations and considerations (children, adolescents, pregnancy/post-partum, older adult, emergency care) for your chosen bipolar and related disorder; demonstrating critical thinking beyond basics of HIPPA and informed consent with discussion of at least one for EACH category: legal considerations, ethical considerations, cultural considerations, social determinants of health
- Discuss FDA and/or clinical practice guidelines approved pharmacological treatment options in relation to acute and mixed episodes vs maintenance pharmacological treatment for your chosen bipolar and related disorder
- Of the medication treatment options for your chosen disorder discuss side effects, FDA approvals and warnings. What is important to monitor in terms of labs, comorbid medical issues with why important for monitoring
- Provide 3 examples of how to write a proper prescription that you would provide to the patient or transmit to the pharmacy.
ANSWER
Bipolar disorders are associated with mood swings that could range from manic highs to depressive lows. It is a significant mental health condition that can easily go unnoticed and with a high risk of misdiagnosis because of its presentation. The exact causes of bipolar disorders are unknown, but genetics, environmental conditions, and altered brain structure are suspected to contribute to the problem. Men and women are equally affected by bipolar disorders, but women experience aggravated symptoms compared to men. Bipolar disorders are …. To access full answer, use the purchase button below.