Posted: May 15th, 2023

Assessing and Treating Patients With Bipolar Disorder

Assignment: Assessing and Treating Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a unique disorder that causes shifts in mood and energy, which results in depression and mania for patients. Proper diagnosis of this disorder is often a challenge for two reasons: 1) patients often present as depressive or manic but may have both; and 2) many symptoms of bipolar disorder are similar to other disorders. Misdiagnosis is common, making it essential for you to have a deep understanding of the disorder’s pathophysiology. For this Assignment, as you examine the patient case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with bipolar disorder.

To prepare for this Assignment:
Review this week’s Learning Resources, including the Medication Resources indicated for this week.
Reflect on the psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for the assessment and treatment of patients requiring bipolar therapy.
The Assignment: 5 pages
Examine Case Study: An Asian American Woman. Diagnosis-Bipolar Disorder. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this patient. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

At each decision point, you should evaluate all options before selecting your decision and moving throughout the exercise. Before you make your decision, make sure that you have researched each option and that you evaluate the decision that you will select. Be sure to research each option using the primary literature.

Introduction to the case (1 page)

Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.
Decision #1 (1 page)

Which decision did you select?
Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #2 (1 page)

Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #3 (1 page)

Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Conclusion (1 page)

Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of five academic resources. While you may use the course text to support your rationale, it will not count toward the resource requirement. You should be utilizing the primary and secondary literature.
_____________________________
In this section, provide a brief overview of the case study, highlighting the patient’s demographic information, presenting symptoms, and the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Discuss the importance of accurate diagnosis and the challenges associated with it. Identify specific patient factors that may impact decision-making when prescribing medication for this patient, such as age, gender, comorbidities, cultural background, and any relevant psychosocial factors.

Decision #1:
In this section, discuss the first decision point, which involves selecting a medication for the patient. Consider the available options provided in the case study and thoroughly research each option using primary literature. Explain which decision you selected and provide a detailed rationale for your choice, considering the patient’s specific factors. Support your decision with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including primary literature. Additionally, explain why you did not select the other two options, providing evidence from the literature.

Discuss the intended goals and outcomes you hoped to achieve by making this decision, citing evidence from the Learning Resources and primary literature. Address ethical considerations that may impact your treatment plan and communication with the patient. Provide specific examples of how ethical considerations, such as cultural sensitivity or patient autonomy, may influence your decision-making process and interactions with the patient.

Decision #2:
Repeat the process described above for the second decision point. Evaluate the available options, select one, and provide a detailed rationale for your choice, considering the patient’s specific factors. Support your decision with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including primary literature. Explain why the other options were not selected, referring to evidence from the literature. Discuss the intended goals and outcomes you hoped to achieve with this decision, supported by evidence from the Learning Resources and primary literature. Address relevant ethical considerations and provide examples.

Decision #3:
Follow the same structure as described in Decision #2 to discuss the third decision point. Evaluate the available options, select one, and provide a detailed rationale for your choice, considering the patient’s specific factors. Support your decision with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including primary literature. Explain why the other options were not chosen, referring to evidence from the literature. Discuss the intended goals and outcomes you hoped to achieve with this decision, supported by evidence from the Learning Resources and primary literature. Address relevant ethical considerations and provide examples.

Conclusion:
Summarize your recommendations for the treatment options you selected for this patient, justifying your choices with evidence from clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including primary literature. Reiterate the importance of accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment, and the consideration of ethical factors in managing bipolar disorder. Emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring, patient education, and a collaborative therapeutic relationship to optimize treatment outcomes.