Mental Health Assessment 4
Which bipolar is worse to live with? ANS: bipolar I
What is cyclothymic disorder? ANS: minor depressive episodes and hypomania; milder form of bipolar II
disorder lasting at least 2 years
- the cycle between hypomania and minor depression are fast (every few days it can switch)
- half of the time can show no symptoms
What type of mental health support works well with cyclothymic disorder? ANS: outpatient
What is bipolar II disorder? ANS: hypomania alternating with SEVERE depression with NO psychosis
- hypomanic episodes last at least 4 days and can involve excessive activity, euphoria, and inc.
functioning
- severe depressive episodes with inc. suicide risk
--> can change to bipolar I disorder is manic ep. last 7 days or longer
What type of mental health support works well with bipolar II disorder? ANS: safe environment and on
meds
- some impairment in occupational or social functioning but hospitalization is rare (BUT may happen
during depressive episodes)
What is bipolar I disorder? ANS: week long FULL MANIC EPISODE alternating with MAJOR DEPRESSION
(MAY HAVE PSYCHOSIS due to so little sleep)
- may experience social difficulty maintaining social connections and employment
What type of mental health support works well with bipolar I disorder? ANS: may need to be
hospitalized if psychotic or in major depressive episode
,- also needs meds
What is mania? ANS: An abnormally elevated mood, which can also be described as expansive or
irritable; usually requires hospitalization.
- Manic episodes last at least 1 week.
What is manic charateristics? ANS: - extreme drive and energy
- inflated sense of self-importance
- **REDUCED SLEEP REQUIREMENTS = can lead to psychosis
- excessive talking w/ pressure speech
- easily distracted
- usually obsessed with and over focused on goals
- purposeless arousal and movement
- racing thoughts
- high risk behaviors: indiscriminate spending, reckless sexual encounters, or risky investments
When do you not assign meds for a manic patient? ANS: if they are pregnant (scared of harming the
fetus)
What are the primary symptoms of mania and the acronym to remember it? ANS: DIG FAST
- D: Distractability
- I: Indiscretion
- G: Grandiosity
- F: Flight of Ideas
- A: Activity Increase
- S: Sleep Deficit
, - T: Talkative
What are the depressive characteristics? ANS: - flat, blunted affect
- tearful, crying
- anergia
- anhedonia
- physical reports/pain
- difficulty concentrating
- poor adl
- disturbed sleep
- psychomotor retardation
What are the primary signs and symptoms of depression and the way to remember them? ANS: SIG E
CAPS
- S: Sleep Disturbance
- I: Interest decreased in pleasure activities and sex
- G: Guilty feelings
- E: Energy decreased
- C: Concentration
- A: Appetite (inc. or dec.)
- P: Psychomotor function dec.
- S: Suicidal ideation
What is the median age of onset for bipolar I? ANS: 18 years old
What is the median age of onset for bipolar II? ANS: 20 years old
Which bipolar is worse to live with? ANS: bipolar I
What is cyclothymic disorder? ANS: minor depressive episodes and hypomania; milder form of bipolar II
disorder lasting at least 2 years
- the cycle between hypomania and minor depression are fast (every few days it can switch)
- half of the time can show no symptoms
What type of mental health support works well with cyclothymic disorder? ANS: outpatient
What is bipolar II disorder? ANS: hypomania alternating with SEVERE depression with NO psychosis
- hypomanic episodes last at least 4 days and can involve excessive activity, euphoria, and inc.
functioning
- severe depressive episodes with inc. suicide risk
--> can change to bipolar I disorder is manic ep. last 7 days or longer
What type of mental health support works well with bipolar II disorder? ANS: safe environment and on
meds
- some impairment in occupational or social functioning but hospitalization is rare (BUT may happen
during depressive episodes)
What is bipolar I disorder? ANS: week long FULL MANIC EPISODE alternating with MAJOR DEPRESSION
(MAY HAVE PSYCHOSIS due to so little sleep)
- may experience social difficulty maintaining social connections and employment
What type of mental health support works well with bipolar I disorder? ANS: may need to be
hospitalized if psychotic or in major depressive episode
,- also needs meds
What is mania? ANS: An abnormally elevated mood, which can also be described as expansive or
irritable; usually requires hospitalization.
- Manic episodes last at least 1 week.
What is manic charateristics? ANS: - extreme drive and energy
- inflated sense of self-importance
- **REDUCED SLEEP REQUIREMENTS = can lead to psychosis
- excessive talking w/ pressure speech
- easily distracted
- usually obsessed with and over focused on goals
- purposeless arousal and movement
- racing thoughts
- high risk behaviors: indiscriminate spending, reckless sexual encounters, or risky investments
When do you not assign meds for a manic patient? ANS: if they are pregnant (scared of harming the
fetus)
What are the primary symptoms of mania and the acronym to remember it? ANS: DIG FAST
- D: Distractability
- I: Indiscretion
- G: Grandiosity
- F: Flight of Ideas
- A: Activity Increase
- S: Sleep Deficit
, - T: Talkative
What are the depressive characteristics? ANS: - flat, blunted affect
- tearful, crying
- anergia
- anhedonia
- physical reports/pain
- difficulty concentrating
- poor adl
- disturbed sleep
- psychomotor retardation
What are the primary signs and symptoms of depression and the way to remember them? ANS: SIG E
CAPS
- S: Sleep Disturbance
- I: Interest decreased in pleasure activities and sex
- G: Guilty feelings
- E: Energy decreased
- C: Concentration
- A: Appetite (inc. or dec.)
- P: Psychomotor function dec.
- S: Suicidal ideation
What is the median age of onset for bipolar I? ANS: 18 years old
What is the median age of onset for bipolar II? ANS: 20 years old
