The Efficacy of Lithium in Treating Bipolar Disorder Essay -- Treatmen

The Efficacy of lithium in Treating Bipolar upset Lithium is a psychotropic drug that became available in 1970 as a mood stabilizing medication for the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder. It has been shown to sicken the frequency and severity of manic states, as well as the slump that is concomitant with bipolar disorder. Much research has been done in the compendious duration of lithiums employment to evaluate its efficacy and side effects.As stated above, Lithium stabilizes the mood of a bipolar patient, preventing a relapse into each mania or depression (Kalat, 2004, p.472). Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness), is characterized by the presence of the following symptoms motor hyperactivity, flight of ideas, elation, a otiose need for sleep, grandiosity, poor judgment, aggressiveness, and possible hostility (FDA, 2005, 4). Manic-depressives are recognized by their constant mood swings, wherein they may be overly euphoric, subsequently nice rapidl y irritable, sad, or hopeless. A person is experiencing a depressive consequence if tail fin or more of the following symptoms are experienced for some of the day, every day, for at least two weeks difficulty concentrating, outlet of interest in sex or formerly enjoyed activities, a lasting empty mood, reduced vigour, difficulty making decisions, chronic pain that is not caused by forcible injury, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide (MedicineNet, 2005, 3). A manic episode is diagnosed if a person displays three or more the following symptoms for most of the day, every day, for one week or more increased energy and restlessness, extreme irritability, distractibility, unrealistic beliefs i... ... Increased Lethargy SomnolenceWeakness Confusion, drowsiness swinish confusionUnsteady balance Gross ataxia Profound loss of balanceNausea Vomiting Urinary incontinenceDecreased loggerheaded speech Random muscle twitchingconcentrationWorsening make it Muscle twitching ComatremorDiarrheaNote. From Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Bipolar Disorder (p.48), by Monica Ramirez Basco and A. John Rush, 1996, New York, NY The Guilford Press. ConclusionAt this point in time, it is not known exactly how lithium alleviates the symptomatology of bipolar disorder, only that it is super effective and will be continue to be one of the old treatments in alleviating bipolar disorder until new remedies are discovered.