Adult Bipolar Disorders : Understanding Your Diagnosis & Getting Help

Preface ix What Are Bipolar Disorders? 1(26) Bipolar disorders: a definition 1(1) Types of bipolar disorders 2(4) The Axis system 6(1) States of mind in bipolar disorders 7(7) What causes bipolar disorders? 14(9) Dual and multiple diagnoses 23(1) Other factors in bipolar disorders 24(3) Getting a Diagnosis 27(14) Where to begin 27(6) Referral roadblocks 33(1) Seeing a specialist 34(2) Tests for bipolar disorders 36(2) The diagnostic report 38(1) The meaning of a diagnosis 39(2) Differential Diagnosis 41(26) Investigating possibilities 41(1) Horses, zebras, and hybrids 42(1) ADHD 43(4) Anxiety 47(1) Conduct disorder 48(1) Cushing's disease 49(1) Depression 49(1) Diabetes mellitus 50(1) Fibromyalgia 50(1) Hormonal disorders 51(2) Hypoglycemia 53(1) Lupus 53(1) Medication side effects 53(1) Multiple sclerosis 54(1) Personality disorders 54(2) Psychosis 56(1) Rheumatoid arthritis 57(1) Substance abuse 57(2) Schizophrenia 59(2) Schizoaffective disorder 61(1) Thyroid disorders 61(1) Infectious illness and mood swings 62(2) Seizure disorders 64(2) The future 66(1) Medical Care 67(75) Taking charge of medication choices 67(1) Why medication doesn't always work 68(5) Dosage details 73(5) Blood tests and EKGs 78(4) Medication side effects 82(6) Mood stabilizers 88(14) Antidepressants 102(12) Neuroleptics 114(4) Stimulants 118(2) Drug and alcohol detox/dependency aids 120(2) Anti-anxiety medications 122(5) New drugs for bipolar disorders 127(1) Immune system therapies 128(5) Hospitalization 133(7) After the hospital 140(2) Talk Therapy 142(19) What is therapy? 142(2) Types of therapists 144(5) How to find a therapist 149(2) Therapy goals 151(1) Therapy styles 151(9) Benefits of therapy 160(1) Non-talk therapies 160(1) Complementary Therapies 161(49) Careful choices 161(1) The role of complementary treatments 162(2) Evaluating complementary therapies 164(1) Evaluating supplements 164(3) One thing at a time 167(1) Complementary treatment systems 167(7) Light therapy 174(1) Fixing sleep problems 175(5) Essential fatty acids 180(4) Diet 184(4) Allergy tests and treatments 188(2) Hormonal treatments 190(2) Anti-viral treatments and immunotherapy 192(5) Herbal remedies 197(1) Vitamins 198(2) Minerals 200(1) Nutritional supplements 201(2) Supplement cautions 203(2) Auditory integration training 205(1) Occupational therapy 206(1) Sensory integration 206(1) Dance, music, or art therapy 207(1) Stress-busters 207(2) The healing power of humor 209(1) Healthcare and Insurance 210(40) Health insurance and bipolar disorders 210(7) Managing managed care 217(4) Fighting limits on psychiatric care 221(1) Getting coverage for new treatments 222(1) Fighting denial of care 223(6) Public healthcare in the US 229(6) Indirect financial help 235(1) Health Canada 236(3) Benefits in the UK 239(1) Benefits in the Republic of Ireland 240(1) Benefits in Australia 240(2) Benefits in New Zealand 242(1) Alternatives to insurance 243(4) Changing the rules 247(1) Other insurance issues 248(2) Living with Bipolar Disorders 250(47) Taking charge of bipolar disorder 256(4) Thinking about thinking 260(3) Bipolar disorders at college 263(1) Bipolar disorders at work 264(11) Housing 275(2) Legal and financial planning 277(3) Especially for women 280(2) Family relationships 282(2) Suicide prevention 284(5) Criminal justice and mental illness 289(2) Maintaining your sanity 291(4) Hold on to hope 295(2) A. Resources 297(35) B. The Genetics of Bipolar Disorders 332(4) C. Diagnostic Tests 336(4) Notes 340(7) Index 347