Bipolar disorder is a mental disease characterized by extreme mood swings and low energy levels preventing an individual from carrying out day-to-day activities. Individuals who have been diagnosed with this disorder may undergo emotional and social challenges (Rowland & Marwaha, 2018).
This may be attributed to the stigma associated with mental illnesses where individuals with bipolar disorder are perceived as crazy in the media which may negatively impact affected individuals. Most movies and television programs depict individuals with bipolar disorder as unstable, being involved in crimes, and unable to live independently leading to a preconceived misconception regarding these individuals (Rowland & Marwaha, 2018).
This can lead to discrimination in public places such as schools, churches, or at work. Due to ignorance, some individuals may have misguided opinions on individuals with this condition that may influence affected individuals to hide their diagnosis to prevent undergoing shame due to this stigma (McCormick, Murray, & McNew, 2015).
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Close relatives and friends may also shun and laugh at them for their condition. This may prevent these individuals in getting adequate treatment and support to address this mental condition effectively. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner can help decrease stigma related to the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder as well as correctly diagnose a person with a BPAD Spectrum Disorder by educating others to understand more about this condition (McCormick, Murray, & McNew, 2015).
This will prevent people from making blanket assumptions about this condition using knowledge gained from movies, television programs, or from other individuals who have a misguided conception regarding this condition (Shah, Grover, & Rao, 2017).
Another way that a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner can help decrease stigma related to the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder is by showing compassion and encouraging patients. This can be achieved by providing the right and adequate healthcare services required for improving their health and supporting patients from the diagnosis stage throughout the treatment process (Shah, Grover, & Rao, 2017).
References
- McCormick, U., Murray, B., & McNew, B. (2015). Diagnosis and treatment of patients with bipolar disorder: A review for advanced practice nurses. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(9), 530–542. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12275
- Rowland, T. A., & Marwaha, S. (2018). Epidemiology and risk factors for bipolar disorder. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 8(9), 251–269. doi:10.1177/2045125318769235
- Shah, N., Grover, S., & Rao, G. P. (2017). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Bipolar Disorder. Indian journal of psychiatry, 59(Suppl 1), S51–S66. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.196974
References
- Shah, R., Grover, S., & Rao, G.P. (2017). Stigma pertaining to bipolar disorder: A systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research.
- Kauer-Sant’Anna, M., Passos de Paula, V.J.B., Souza Costa,R.T.dosS.da et al.(2016) Are Bipolar Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome Relatively Old Companions?
- McNamara, Robert K. (2014) Capable Guardianship? Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder in the Mindscape of Criminal Law
- National Library of Medicine Bipolar Disorder Research Database
- Hargreaves, Emma H., Khanam, Tanzina & Lee, Kelvin (2019) Asian Research Journal of Psychiatry- Bipolar disorder.
