In a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, a group of doctors at Northwestern University in Chicago tested whether patients with bipolar disorder were receiving enough medical care.
Researchers tested the mood medication Depakote for patients with manic symptoms and for those with depressive symptoms, and the medication Valium for patients experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
“The study is important because it suggests that there is some evidence that people who have bipolar disorder may be underdiagnosed,” says Dr. Daniel C. Breslin, one of the authors.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by high energy, impulsivity, and high levels of anxiety.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder are typically severe, lasting for months or even years, and can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior.
In the past, patients with Bipolar Disorder were treated with medications like Paxil, Zoloft, and Concerta, but these medications are not currently approved for bipolar disorder.
Bases Breslan’s study, which was published online in the journal PLOS ONE, looked at more than 20,000 patients in the general population.
They were given medication doses based on their diagnoses and whether they had symptoms of depression, mania, or both.
“We were trying to do a clinical trial, and we found that people with bipolar illness are getting more care than they should,” says Bresl.
The study found that more than two-thirds of patients receiving bipolar medication were receiving it at least twice a day, with one-third receiving it four or more times a day.
“I think the more people who are getting help, the better it is going to be,” says C.S. Lewis, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine.
Bias bias and misclassification of bipolar patients’ symptoms The researchers also found that bipolar patients who had depressive symptoms were overdiagnosed.
“Bipolar patients who have depressive symptoms are being overdiagnose,” says Lewis.
“They are underdiagnosing their symptoms because they are misclassified as having depressive symptoms.”
The researchers were able to show that Bipolar Depression was misclassified among bipolar patients with depressive and mania symptoms.
“It’s really important for doctors to understand that this type of misclassifying can be a problem because of bias, because of misdiagnosis, and it’s a real problem when it comes to getting proper diagnosis and treatment,” says Thomas.
The researchers conducted a second study, where they found that patients with a mood-stabilizing medication, lithium, were over-diagnosed and misclassified by their doctors.
“If you get a mood stabilizer, you can be prescribed more medication, but your doctor is going into the doctor’s office thinking you’re bipolar,” says Clark.
“You’re going to get this diagnosis of bipolar, but you’re not going to receive treatment.”
The findings suggest that Bias can be one of several reasons for patients to be misclassified and treated poorly.
Lewis says that B.D.A. guidelines are outdated.
“Many of the guidelines that we use for bipolar and bipolar depression, and they are out of date,” says Loehr.
“There are a lot of factors that affect this, and people with B.S., bipolar, or depressive diagnoses need to be evaluated for appropriate treatment.
There are some very good B.B.A.-trained psychiatrists, and if they can identify bipolar or depressive patients who are misdiagnosed, they can help identify other patients who need to see a B.A., as well.”
Lewis says he’s also concerned about the stigma that Burden and others with BPD face.
“People with Burden often have mental health challenges,” he says.
“What they’re going through is very difficult.
And they’re struggling to make ends meet.
They’re being pushed to get the treatment that they need, but they’re also having their lives taken away.”
“I want people to know that bipolar is a disease, and that it can’t be treated,” says Margo.
“A person needs help and can’t get it from a doctor.”
