Overview of the Case
Bipolar disorder is a mental disease that produces unexpected changes in mood, stamina, activity levels, attention, and capacity to carry out daily activities. Symptoms of manic and depressive episodes may coexist in a dissociative fugue as the disease progresses (Albashrawi, 2019). Bipolar disorder is usually identified in late teens or early adulthood as is in the case of Cheryl R. Bipolar symptoms in children are rare. Bipolar disorder may develop during or after pregnancy. Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness that needs lifetime therapy. The right medication may help individuals manage symptoms and enhance their quality of life. (Paris, 2017).
Target Symptoms
People with bipolar illness have times of abnormally strong mood, changes in sleep and activity patterns, and odd actions, frequently without realizing the consequences. According to Albashrawi (2019), mood episodes are at different intervals of time. Mood episodes are distinct from the person’s normal emotions and actions. Symptoms persist most of the time throughout an episode, which may last a day or a week.
- Gloomy mood
- Decreased enjoyment or interest in almost all activities
- Substantial weight loss or gain, or appetite loss or gain
- Insomnia vs. Hyper
- Psychomotor agitation
- A lack of energy
- Dejection or undue guilt
- Inability to concentrate or extreme indecision
- Suicidal thoughts or plans; the patient has tried or planned suicide.
Medication Treatment Plan
According to Paris (2017), the management of bipolar disorder depends on the intensity of the episode and may include both psychotherapy and medication. An essential consideration is if the patient’s current medicines are triggering the incident. The antidepressants are discontinued and other mania-inducing drugs if such incidents occur. Antidepressants with discontinuation symptoms should be reduced over weeks as treatment with fluoxetine continues.
Elaboration on One Question Regarding the Case Study
Symptoms of a hypomanic episode include being inflated, expansive, and irritable for at least four days, as well as feeling irritable (Paris, 2017). In hypomania, however, symptoms are not severe enough to impede social or vocational functioning or require hospitalization, as in the case of Cheryl R, nor are they linked with psychosis. The most common and devastating form of bipolar illness is bipolar depression which is evident in the case subject, Cheryl R. More effective and safe therapies are urgently required and hence the recommended use of fluoxetine.
Reference
Albashrawi, B. (2019). An effective CBT technique for bipolar disorder.Bipolar Disorder: Open Access, 04, 22-36.
Paris, J. (2017). Differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. Bipolar Disorders, 19(7), 605.