Features of Rapid Cycling and Treatment
Features of Rapid Cycling and Treatment
Features of Rapid Cycling and Treatment
Bipolar Disorder
Brian McCarthy, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Objectives:
Identify criteria for Bipolar Disorder as outlined in the DSM-V.
Identify diagnostic tools to help in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Identify modalities for the treatment of mania.
Identify features of bipolar depression and its treatment
Identify features of mixed states and its treatment.
Identify feature of rapid cycling and its treatment.
What are your thoughts on bipolar disorder?
What is bipolar disorder and how do you understand it?
What gets in the way of understanding what it is?
What does “bipolar” actually mean—the key to understanding the disorder fully.
DSM-V
To be considered mania, the elevated, expansive, or irritable mood must last for at least one week and be present most of the day, nearly every day. To be considered hypomania, the mood must last at least four consecutive days and be present most of the day, almost every day.
DSM continued
During this period, three or more of the following symptoms must be present and represent a significant change from usual behavior:
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep
Increased talkativeness
Racing thoughts
Distracted easily
Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
Engaging in activities that hold the potential for painful consequences, e.g., unrestrained buying sprees
DSM
The depressive side of bipolar disorder is characterized by a major depressive episode resulting in depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in life. The DSM-5 states that a person must experience five or more of the following symptoms in two weeks to be diagnosed with a major depressive episode:
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
Loss of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities
Significant weight loss or decrease or increase in appetite
Engaging in purposeless movements, such as pacing the room
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt
There is more than just the DSM
It is helpful to look at bipolar disorder as a spectrum
As such, there are many people who will not match up to the criteria.
Tools
The MINI 7.0
This screening tool is not free but it is not hard to get copies of and it is available for subscription.
SCID
Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders.
Harvard Bipolar Index
Developed by Gary Sachs and others (Ghaemi) at Harvard. Validated by Aiken and Weisler in 2015. It looks at 5 domains:
Hypomania or mania
Age of onset of first mood symptoms
Illness course and other features generally only visible over time
Response to medications (antidepressants and mood stabilizers)
Family history of mood and substance use problems
In practice
See the actual index.
Why use these tools?
Greater reliability than just opinion.
They have been validated.
Why would we not use them?
Would you allow your pcp to diagnose you with diabetes without lab work? Just his/her opinion alone?
So you have a manic patient—what will you do?
What are the medications you know of that are first line treatments?
Most but not all of the atypicals.
Which ones would you avoid?
Anticonvulsants: Depakote, Carbamazepine.
Do you know how to dose?
Do you understand the lab work?
Lithium
Gold standard
Dose at bedtime if possible
Do you know the lab values key for using lithium in mania?
Second line treatments?
Third Line?
Non-pharmacological options?
Exercise
Dark Therapy
Classic dark therapy
Modified dark therapy with blue light filter glasses
Mania is resolved….now what?
What do you do with meds at this point?
