
- NRNP 6665 Week 5 Assignment Patient Education for Children and Adolescents (Bipolar Disorder).
Childhood & Adolescent Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is a type of disorder that affects one’s mood; the persons experience a manic and or hypomanic episode along with low feelings of depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association, Bipolar Disorder is defined as a brain disorder that causes changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. It is characterized by intense emotional states in distinct periods called mood episodes (McIntyre et al., 2020). These mood episodes are classified as manic, hypomanic, or depressive. People with Bipolar Disorder can also experience periods of neutral mood. Everyone should be able to quickly note the symptoms, know how they are being managed, and get the correct information on where to turn for help. Explore NRNP 6665 Week 3 Assignment 1 for more information.
Indicators and Manifestations
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in children and adolescents may not be the same as those of adults (Cichoń et al., 2020). Key signs and symptoms include:
Elevated Mood Episodes
- Being happy all the time or wasting time at school
- Suffering from a very low level of patience or looking like one is in a bad mood.
- Speaking rapidly and on many topics
- On the other hand, you find yourself struggling to sleep, yet not even tired.
- Calmly going through crucial behaviours while not pondering an outcome.
Low Mood Episodes
- Severe depression or clinical depression
- The amount of sleep also affects it; too much or too little sleep can cause one to be sleepy all day.
- Taking much food or taking little food
- Having little strength and feeling increasingly weary and bored with previously enjoyable tasks.
- Considering the possibilities of engaging in death or suicide.
If one identifies such signs, then it will assist in the proper diagnosis and management of this disorder.
Medication-Based Treatments
Medications for Bipolar Disorder are generally considered to be a keystone in the treatment of this condition. They have proved helpful in preventing mood fluctuations and even moderating the extent and the number of episodes (Davydov et al., 2021). Common medications include:
NRNP 6665 Week 5 Assignment Patient Education for Children and Adolescents (Bipolar Disorder)
- Mood Stabilizers: It must be noted that lithium is one of the most frequently used mood stabilizers.
- Antipsychotics: These can assist in managing symptoms of mania. Some of them are risperidone and aripiprazole, though the list is slightly more extensive than these two choices.
- Antidepressants: Occasionally prescribed for depressive episodes but most often as an adjunct to fend off the onset of mania.
Therapy and Lifestyle Interventions
In addition to medication, several nonpharmacological treatments can help manage Bipolar Disorder.
- Psychotherapy: CBT is the process by which children and adolescents are made to understand their thoughts, feelings, and how they handle them.
- Family Therapy engages the family and seeks to enhance communication and support for people with the condition.
- Education: To educate the patient and family about the disease that affects the patient.
- Lifestyle Changes: Proper sleep at the right time, eating meals, and exercise could reduce mood swings.
Support Networks and Professional Referrals
Having the right companion during therapy is very important in Bipolar Disorder. Here are some community resources and referrals that can help:
NRNP 6665 Week 5 Assignment Patient Education for Children and Adolescents (Bipolar Disorder)
- Mental Health Professionals: Mental health care professionals consist of psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed therapists, in particular, who have a speciality in Bipolar Disorder.
- Support Groups: However, group support may also be the same as in the offline and online formats; that is, people with the same experiences feel the same. There are support groups that can help youths; one of them is the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, also known as DBSA.
- School Counselors: They may offer services for support and living arrangements to handle issues in school.
- Crisis Services: If one does not find it suitable to use the above line, the following services can be used in an emergency: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) and Crisis Text Line, where one only needs to type HELLO to 741741.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the first way to solve Bipolar Disorder, which is familiar in children and adolescents, is to comprehend this severe condition. Understanding the signs and symptoms, drug therapy and other treatment alternatives, and involvement of community resources can work wonders for the affected patients and their families because youth develop various health risk factors when they are young. Intervention before and after enrollment is imperative for students to achieve proper health balance.
References
Cichoń, L., Janas-Kozik, M., Siwiec, A., & Rybakowski, J. (2020). Clinical picture and treatment of bipolar affective disorder in children and adolescents. Psychiatria Polska, 54(1), 35–50. https://doi.org/10.12740/pp/onlinefirst/92740
Davydov, D. M., Galvez-Sánchez, C. M., Montoro, C. I., de Guevara, C. M. L., & Reyes del Paso, G. A. (2021). Personalized behaviour management as a replacement for medications for pain control and mood regulation. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99803-x
McIntyre, R. S., Berk, M., Brietzke, E., Goldstein, B. I., López-Jaramillo, C., Kessing, L. V., Malhi, G. S., Nierenberg, A. A., Rosenblat, J. D., Majeed, A., Vieta, E., Vinberg, M., Young, A. H., & Mansur, R. B. (2020). Bipolar disorders. The Lancet, 396(10265), 1841–1856. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)31544-0