Assessing and Treating Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Assessing and Treating Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar I disorder is a serious mental illness characterized by episodes of mania and depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 2.8% of adults in the United States have bipolar I disorder, with an average age of onset being 25 years old (NIMH, 2022). This assignment aims to explore various aspects of bipolar I disorder, including its prevalence and neurobiology, diagnostic criteria and presentation of symptoms, special populations and considerations, pharmacological treatment options, side effects, monitoring, and proper prescription writing. By examining these topics, the author hopes to add to the understanding of bipolar I disorder and its management in clinical practice. Prevalence and Neurobiology of Bipolar 1 Disorder Bipolar I disorder is a severe mental illness that affects individuals worldwide. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that approximately 2.8% of adults in the United States have bipolar I disorder, with an average age of onset being 25 (NIMH, 2022). The prevalence of bipolar I disorder is similar across different cultures and ethnicities, indicating no significant cultural or racial variation in the incidence of this disorder. Bipolar I disorder is believed to be a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors. Neuroimaging studies have shown that individuals with bipolar I disorder have structural and functional abnormalities in various brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus (Muneer, 2016). The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, planning, and cognitive flexibility, while the amygdala and hippocampus play important roles in emotional processing and memory.

3 Abnormalities in these regions can lead to mood dysregulation and cognitive impairment in bipolar I disorder