Caring for a Patient with Bipolar Disorder - 1992 Words

No matter where you practice as a nurse, you may be assigned to care for a patient with bipolar I disorder. Keltner (2011) describes bipolar I disorder as â€Å"the most significant of these disorders. The patient experiences swings between manic episodes and major depression† (p. 291). According to Murphy (2006), â€Å"bipolar disorder can be like a roller-coaster, with exciting ‘highs’ and very frightening downhill plunges† (p. 58). Most patients are more likely to seek help when they are depressed or feel ‘bad;’ therefore, Goossens (2007) determines bipolar disorder is frequently underdiagnosed. As a nurse, you will play a critical role in the detection of signs and symptoms of this disorder. Manic symptoms are fundamental to the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, and to meet diagnostic criteria, the symptoms must persist for at least one week (or shorter if hospitalization is required) (Keltner, 2011). Manic phases can have a sudden onset, escalate quickly, and they can last anywhere from a few days to several months. Symptoms of mania include talkativeness, racing thoughts, distractibility, extreme irritability, impaired judgment, and social blunders may even occur. Individuals experiencing a manic episode have an inflated view of their importance, sometimes reaching grandiosity (Keltner, 2011). Involvement with alcohol and drugs is fairly common, and they are at a high risk of destructive behaviors such as suicide, addiction, and violence. Manic patients with extreme anger andShow MoreRelatedMental Disorders And Its Effects1437 Words   |  6 Pages Mental disorders are a result of different problems associated with the brain, and each problem has various symptoms. These disorders of the brain are normally characterized by different factors that are combined, such as emotions, relationships, behavior and abnormal thoughts. 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