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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
what to expect from bipolar off medication
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD - RG, Jan 17, 2000 12:00AM
It difficult to convince somebody to get back on medication without their full consent. Manic depressive per se are not out of touch of reality. Their thought process are just faster than the average individual.
However, sometimes the manic - depressive (bipolar) patients perform extremely dangerous behaviors that the courts intervene to maintain the safety of the individual and other people and order that medications should be taken by the patient. In these cases, bipolar pts are hospitalized and stabilized with medications.
On the other hand, if the patient is not doing any risky type of behaviors, the difficulty in convincing the patient sets in. I would advise seeking help from all the trusted friends/family the patient has to assist you in this difficult task. You may want to monitor her closely that she does not hurt herself or others during these manic periods.
However, sometimes the manic - depressive (bipolar) patients perform extremely dangerous behaviors that the courts intervene to maintain the safety of the individual and other people and order that medications should be taken by the patient. In these cases, bipolar pts are hospitalized and stabilized with medications.
On the other hand, if the patient is not doing any risky type of behaviors, the difficulty in convincing the patient sets in. I would advise seeking help from all the trusted friends/family the patient has to assist you in this difficult task. You may want to monitor her closely that she does not hurt herself or others during these manic periods.
