Question on Bipolar Phases

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

If you have a patient with headache, agitation, and indigestion what phase of bipolar is he/she in ? cyclothymic, depressive, hypomania, or manic?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

I think we need a better picture of the patient than this to give you an honest answer/opinion.

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Thank you for responding. Actually I think I got it. Although it was not homework it was just bothering me. The headache & indigestion were side effects of meds and patient was in manic phase. Had it right the first time and then started overthinking the situation because those were the pts complaints when pt came in according to the Hx and physical. Pt was admitted after a MVA with multiple fx. The pt is now discharged but it was bothering me that all the nurses were saying the s/sx were part of the Bipolar. :D

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

I think you nailed it correctly.

My best to you.

Specializes in Public Health, Med Surg, HIV Care.

BTW, cyclothymic/cyclothymia is a disorder unto itself. It describes a disorder in which an individual has never had a major depressive episode or a full-blown manic episode, but who has had both dysthymic (mini-depression) and hypomanic episodes that are ongoing for at least 2 years, and who has not been symptom-free for more than 2 months during those 2 years (my shortened version based on DSM-IV Tr).

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.
BTW, cyclothymic/cyclothymia is a disorder unto itself. It describes a disorder in which an individual has never had a major depressive episode or a full-blown manic episode, but who has had both dysthymic (mini-depression) and hypomanic episodes that are ongoing for at least 2 years, and who has not been symptom-free for more than 2 months during those 2 years (my shortened version based on DSM-IV Tr).

Thanks much. :D

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