a brief explanation of the psychological disorder presented and the decision steps you applied in completing the interactive media piece for the psychological disorder you selected (Bipolar disorder). Then, explain how the administration of the associated pharmacotherapeutics you recommended may impact the patient's pathophysiology. How might these potential impacts inform how you would suggest treatment plans for this patient? Be specific and provide examples.

 

Answer:

Bipolar disorder is a chronic disorder, with depressive symptoms and frequent recurrent episodes. The onset of the disease is in early childhood, and it is continued life-long. There is a suicidal risk in this disorder, and the patient can also harm others. The bipolar patients are first diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians. This disorder cannot be treated with antidepressant therapy alone. Bipolar disorder can be treated by both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.

Pharmacologic treatment reduces the symptoms with tolerability and acceptable safety. The treatment is based on the mental health of the patients. Drugs used to treat acute symptoms are Divalproex, lithium, aripiprazole, carbamazepine, and ziprasidone. Quetiapine therapy, olanzapine combined with fluoxetine is used to treat depression.

Pharmacological treatment has adverse effects such as weight gain, nausea, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, rashes, sedation, hair loss, dizziness, hyperglycemia, leukopenia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Lithium can cause fatal renal dysfunction, during long term therapy. Olanzapine treatment is accompanied by weight gain, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Ziprasidone and aripiprazole are associated with hyperglycemia.

The adverse effect of drugs should be monitored during long-term treatment. Some drugs cause more weight gain and dyslipidemia than others. So, before prescribing the drugs, cardiometabolic factors should be accessed to prevent metabolic syndrome. The dose of recommended drugs during long term treatment should be monitored every 3-6 months. The blood test should also be performed every 3-6 months, to check the presence of any other dysfunction due to the side effect of medicines. If lithium is used for the treatment, then the patient should be checked for renal impairment by a urine test, for the presence of electrolytes, creatinine, and urea. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and calcium should also be monitored. If treated with carbamazepine, than perform liver function test, urine test, and complete blood count (CBC). If Divalproex is given than regularly check weight, menstrual history, and CBC.

Reference: -

Culpepper L. (2014). The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 16(3), PCC.13r01609. doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609