NR 547 Week 5 Discussion; Case Study - Kristin is a 26-year-old client.

depression that can recur over 琀椀me. In between episodes, some individuals may experience lingering symptoms, while others may be free of mood changes. Long-term, con琀椀nuous treatment is essen琀椀al for managing these symptoms. Treatment typically involves a combina琀椀on of medica琀椀on and therapy (Na琀椀onal Ins琀椀tute of Mental Health, 2022). Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is an essen琀椀al part of trea琀椀ng bipolar disorder. It includes treatment techniques aimed at helping individuals recognize and change troubling emo琀椀ons, thoughts, and behaviors. This form of therapy o昀昀ers support, educa琀椀on, and guidance to individuals with bipolar disorder and their families. Cogni琀椀ve behavioral therapy (CBT) is a crucial treatment for depression, and CBT speci昀椀cally tailored for insomnia can be par琀椀cularly bene昀椀cial as part of the treatment for bipolar depression (Na琀椀onal Ins琀椀tute of Mental Health, 2022). The most common medica琀椀ons prescribed by healthcare providers include mood stabilizers and atypical an琀椀psycho琀椀cs. Mood stabilizers such as lithium or valproate can help prevent mood episodes or reduce their severity. Lithium can also decrease the risk of suicide. Healthcare providers may also include medica琀椀ons targe琀椀ng sleep or anxiety as part of the treatment plan. It's important to note that bipolar depression is o昀琀en treated with an琀椀depressant medica琀椀on. However, it must be taken alongside a mood stabilizer, as taking an an琀椀depressant without a mood stabilizer can trigger a manic episode or rapid cycling in individuals with bipolar disorder. Addi琀椀onally, since people with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help when they are depressed rather than when they are experiencing mania or hypomania, healthcare providers must take a careful medical history to ensure that bipolar disorder is not mistaken for depression (Pérez de Mendiola et al., 2021). I would start Kris琀椀n on a mood stabilizer, like Lithium. Lithium is considered the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). Current clinical guidelines and scien琀椀昀椀c evidence support its use as a 昀椀rst-line treatment in BD. However, over the last two decades, there has been a downward tendency in lithium's use in several developed countries (Pérez de Mendiola et al., 2021). I would also encourage psychotherapy. Manning J. S. (2010). Tools to improve di昀昀eren琀椀al diagnosis of bipolar disorder in primary care. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry, 12(Suppl 1), 17–22. h琀琀ps://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.9064su1c.03 Na琀椀onal Ins琀椀tute of Mental Health. (2022, September). Bipolar Disorder. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Na琀椀onal Ins琀椀tutes of Health. Retrieved February 7, 2023, from h琀琀ps://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder Pérez de Mendiola, X., Hidalgo-Mazzei, D., Vieta, E., & González-Pinto, A. (2021). Overview of lithium's use: a na琀椀onwide survey. Interna琀椀onal journal of bipolar disorders, 9(1), 10. h琀琀ps://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-020-00215-z Wallen, G., (2024). What Is Unspeci昀椀ed Bipolar Disorder (NOS)? Retrieved on August 7, 2024 from h琀琀ps://www.choosingtherapy.com/medica琀椀ons-for-bipolar-disorder/