Citation

Tylee A, Goodwin GM. Primary Care Mental Health 2006; 4(4): 221-233.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness characterised by recurrent episodes of manic and depressive moods that can each last weeks or months. The symptoms of bipolar disorder typically reduce opportunities for employment and education, adversely affect finances and relationships, and produce a markedly elevated risk for suicide. As discussed in this paper, primary care physicians (PCPs) have a unique and wide-ranging role in the care of patients with bipolar disorder because PCPs frequently are the first to identify patients with bipolar disorder and to refer them to specialist mental health services. Following establishment of a care plan, PCPs may be the only healthcare professionals in regular contact with patients during their long-term care, particularly in terms of monitoring their wider healthcare needs. A number of guidelines have been produced to better inform healthcare professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with bipolar disorder. This article reviews current understanding of the optimal management of bipolar disorder based on recent research and guidelines, with particular reference to the diverse role of PCPs. © 2006 Radcliffe Publishing.

Language: en

Keywords

human; bipolar disorder; Bipolar disorder; psychotherapy; depression; major depression; lithium; disease severity; clozapine; Diagnosis; mood disorder; risk factor; review; primary medical care; mental disease; questionnaire; disease classification; physician; anticonvulsive agent; antidepressant agent; mental health care; neuroleptic agent; cognitive defect; paroxetine; sedation; serotonin uptake inhibitor; tricyclic antidepressant agent; unclassified drug; headache; quetiapine; practice guideline; gastrointestinal symptom; haloperidol; health survey; high risk behavior; drug safety; mental patient; drug blood level; doctor patient relation; medical research; psychiatric diagnosis; benzodiazepine derivative; nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; follow up; carbamazepine; extrapyramidal symptom; olanzapine; risperidone; drug tolerability; nausea; tremor; weight gain; agranulocytosis; hyperprolactinemia; akathisia; diagnostic error; diagnostic test; valproic acid; mania; rash; relapse; lamotrigine; side effect; symptom; atypical antipsychotic agent; diabetes mellitus; infection; metabolic disorder; ziprasidone; QT prolongation; estrogen; low drug dose; Management; diagnostic approach route; dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase inhibitor; diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders; aplastic anemia; increased appetite; lethargy; Stevens Johnson syndrome; aripiprazole; add on therapy; hair loss; diuretic agent; dyslipidemia; coordination disorder; drug dose increase; drug dose titration; metabolic bone disease; oxcarbamazepine