BIPOLAR DEPRESSION
Everyone has their ups and downs but as again, people with bipolar disorder experience these highs and lows more intensely.
The symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder are very similar to simple depression. It is bipolar depression when the person has in the past also experienced an episode of mania or hypomania (over-excitedness that can also impact day-to-day life).
During the depressive phase of bipolar disorder, one can experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Feeling sad and empty
- Having minimum to no energy
- Having thoughts about death or suicide
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating too much or too little
- Feeling loss of interest in the routine activities
- Feeling difficulty in concentrating and decision making
According to the National Institute of Mental Health more than 5.7 million adult Americans suffer from bipolar disorder but a good half of this population never receive proper diagnosis or treatment.
Treatment Options for Bipolar Depression
Diagnosing bipolar depression is difficult. Studies suggest that as many as 50% of people who actually have bipolar depression are wrongly diagnosed with Unipolar depression. Their treatment is therefore also difficult with a risk of worsening of patient’s condition with traditional antidepressants.
Usual treatment options for bipolar depression include medications like mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressant-antipsychotic combinations and anti-anxiety agents. Different types of psycho-therapies, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT), psychoeducation, family-focused therapy, etc. are also options with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) usually being the last resort.
Ketamine therapy has proven impressive in the treatment of bipolar depression; safe and well-tolerated by patients, with little to no side effects at all. It can be especially beneficial for patients who have become treatment resistant to the more conventional medications.
Unlike the other conventional medications that require weeks to exert their effects, Ketamine works in a matter of hours. Ketamine is believed to exert antidepressant effects by interacting with certain receptors in the central nervous system. Mental healthcare experts have observed over 70% success rate in treating Depression with Ketamine.
If you or a loved one are still suffering from bipolar depression after trying traditional methods of treatment, Ketamine can be a compelling option.
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Dr. Mendiola is Ventura's trusted hometown doctor, caring for its residents and neighboring counties’ since 2000.
He completed his psychiatry residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, his advanced TMS Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, and is dual-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
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