Word parts
What it means
A long-term mood disorder in which the person's mood swings between two "poles". In mania the person has very high energy, needs little sleep, talks fast, has racing thoughts and may take big risks; in depression they feel sad, hopeless and tired. Between episodes many people feel well. Mood-stabilizing drugs such as lithium are a mainstay of treatment.
For the nurse
During mania, keep the setting calm, offer high-calorie finger foods and fluids, and protect the client from harm. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range (0.8–1.2 mEq/L): teach the client to drink enough fluid, keep salt intake steady and report early toxicity signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, tremor and drowsiness.
In a chart
"Client has slept 2 hours in 3 nights, pressured speech, flight of ideas; lithium level drawn."
At a glance
| Spanish | trastorno bipolar |
|---|---|
| Also written | bipolar disorders, bipolar-disorder, bipolar-disorders |