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On average, people with bipolar disorder see 3 to 4 doctors and
spend over 8 years seeking treatment before they receive a correct
diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis, proper treatment, and finding the right
medications can help people avoid the following:
● Suicide. The risk is highest in the initial years of the illness.
Over the course of the illness nearly 1 out of 5 individuals with
bipolar disorder will die from suicide, making it one of the most
lethal psychiatric illnesses.
● Alcohol/substance abuse. More than 50% of those with bipolar
disorder abuse alcohol or drugs during their illness. While some
individuals may use substances in an attempt to “self-medicate”
symptoms of bipolar illness, individuals with a combination of
substance abuse and bipolar illness have a worse outcome.
● Marital and work problems. Prompt treatment improves the
prospects for a stable marriage and productive work.
● Treatment difficulties. In some individuals, it appears that
episodes become more frequent and harder to treat over time.
This is sometimes referred to as “kindling.”
● Incorrect, inappropriate, or partial treatment. A person misdi-agnosed
as having depression alone instead of bipolar disorder
may incorrectly receive antidepressants alone without a mood
stabilizing medication. This can trigger manic episodes and
make the overall course of the illness worse.
平均说来,一个双向情感障碍的病人要看3-4个心理医生,花八年时间才来找到正确的治疗方法。这篇短文讲了尽早地诊断和治疗双向情感障碍可以避免的5大问题。 |
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