Author Question: Depression in unipolar disorder and bipolar disorder may be confused during diagnosis. What ... (Read 73 times)

kellyjaisingh · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

Depression in unipolar disorder and bipolar disorder may be confused during diagnosis.

What potential problems might occur if the decision was made to treat a person with bipolar depression with a standard antidepressant (e.g., tricyclic, SSRI) or to treat a person with unipolar depression with lithium?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The atypical antipsychotic clozapine (Clozaril) differs from typical antipsychotics in terms of its

a. greater efficacy in reducing the negative symptoms of schizophrenia
b. lower incidence of tardive dyskinesia
c. lower incidence of parkinsonian-like motor disturbances
d. all of these

bookworm410 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The likelihood that the drug will be effective would be low, thus, potentially lengthening the person's time of misery or dysfunction by several weeks or months before the appropriate medication is prescribed. Also, tricyclics and SSRIs generally produce more uncomfortable side effects than lithium and may precipitate a manic episode in the bipolar individual. On the other hand, because of lithium's very low therapeutic index, a unipolar patient given lithium would have to undergo expensive and unnecessary blood tests to make sure they don't overdose.

Answer to Question 2

d