Problem: Respond to the following discussion board and provide references
Sam exhibits several symptoms that are indicative of bipolar disorder. These symptoms include insomnia, elevated energy, heightened moods, perceptual abnormalities, increased cognitive perception, mania, and a history of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). These factors support the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, as per Nierenberg et al. (2023). Sam's recent actions, including suddenly changing his academic focus, becoming more social than usual, and believing in his intellectual superiority, all indicate that he may be experiencing a manic episode. It is important to note that Sam has a history MDD and GAD. Because bipolar disorder often respond to the following discussion board and provides references.
Co-occurs with these conditions, it is crucial to explore the possibility of Bipolar I Disorder in his case.
Bipolar I disorder has several types of pharmacotherapeutic medications to manage its episodes. These drugs fall under four categories, including psychoactive medications like mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressant-antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety drugs (Vieta et al., 2018). Antipsychotic medications such as quetiapine, olanzapine, and risperidone, along with anticonvulsant drugs such as valproate, Lamotrigine, and carbamazepine, can be effectively used to treat depressive symptoms and mania. According to Hafeman et al. (2020), the combination of Lithium and aripiprazole, an antipsychotic drug, can also be effective in treating permanent conditions of unipolar and bipolar disorders. Another type of medication commonly used for treating bipolar I disorder is mood stabilizers, such as Lamotrigine and Divalproex. These medications can help alleviate manic or depressive episodes while allowing the individual to remain functional and able to focus on their tasks and interactions with others (Hafeman et al., 2020). To manage Sam's medication, the most appropriate drug would be Lithium. The recommended dosage for acute mania ranges from 600-900 mg per day. Lithium would be the medication treatment choice because Lithium is effective in treating manic episodes and maintenance of reoccurrences (Stahl, 2021). The starting dose would be 300 mg two to three times daily. Adjustments to the medication would be made based on Sam's response to treatment, serum lithium levels, and any adverse effects.