Chapter 36- Bipolar Disorder

Description

IMPORTANT NOTE – PLEASE READ FIRST: This continuing education assessment requires that you first purchase the text book: Pharmacotherapy Principles & Practice. Please go to our home page: http://www.rxugace.com/ and click on “Books” for more information Prior To Registering for this assessment.

Upon completion of the corresponding textbook chapter in Pharmacotherapy Principles & Practice and this on-line assessment, the reader should be able to:

1. Explain the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder.
2. Recognize the symptoms of a manic episode and depressive episode in patients with bipolar disorder.
3. Identify common comorbidities of bipolar disorder.
4. Recognize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria for bipolar disorder as well as the subtypes of bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder.
5. List the desired therapeutic outcomes for patients with bipolar disorder.
6. Explain the use of drugs as first-line therapy in bipolar disorder, including appropriate dosing, expected therapeutic effects, potential adverse effects, and important drug-drug interactions.
7. Recommend individualized drug therapy for acute treatment and relapse prevention based on patient-specific data.
8. Recommend monitoring methods for assessment of therapeutic and adverse effects of drugs used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
9. Recommend treatment approaches for special populations of patients with bipolar disorder, including pediatric patients, geriatric patients, and pregnant patients.
10. Educate patients with bipolar disorder about their illness, drug therapy required for effective treatment, and the importance of adherence.

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