Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a life-long mental health condition that causes depressive and manic mood swings. These shifts in mood affect every aspect of life. Akwetey Akrong, PMHNP-BC, and the team at Reverence Behavioral Health Services in Oak Brook, Illinois, take a patient-centered and integrative approach to bipolar disorder. The team creates plans that put you back in control of your emotional and mental well-being. For help with bipolar disorder, call or schedule an appointment online today.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health disorder that causes moods that shift between periods of depression and mania (elated, energized, irritable). These mood swings are extreme and disruptive to daily life.

Bipolar disorder affects behavior, energy, and thinking, making it hard to manage the day-to-day responsibilities of life. Taking an integrative and patient-focused approach, the Reverence Behavioral Health Services team partners with you, creating plans that put you back in control. 

What are the types of bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder affects everyone differently. The types distinguish between the severity of the mood swings. Bipolar disorder types include:

Bipolar I disorder

People with bipolar I disorder experience the most extreme shifts in mood, with manic episodes that last more than seven days or require hospitalization. Periods of depression follow the manic episodes.

Bipolar II disorder

With bipolar II disorder, people fluctuate between hypomanic and depressive episodes. Hypomania is less extreme than mania.

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymic disorder causes moods that fluctuate between hypomania and depression over a two-year period. In adolescents, the shifts in mood occur over a one-year period.

What happens during a bipolar disorder evaluation?

The Reverence Behavioral Health Services team conducts a thorough psychiatric evaluation when you seek help for your mood changes. 

They understand how mental health conditions affect your emotional, mental, and physical well-being, working closely with you to create plans that help you take back control. 

The psychiatric evaluation may include a review of your symptoms, medical and mental health history, and family history. The team may also administer psychological tests to assess your emotional and cognitive state. 

What treatments help bipolar disorder?

The Reverence Behavioral Health Services team takes a patient-centered approach to care, combining pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical treatments to help you reach the highest level of functioning. Treatment for bipolar disorder may include:

Medication management

The team at Reverence Behavioral Health Services helps you find the right psychiatric medication or medications to stabilize your mood. 

Psychotherapy

The adult and adolescent psychiatrist also provides individualized psychotherapy, so you understand your mood changes and triggers. They work closely with you, helping you develop strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of your mood swings.

For expert bipolar disorder care from a highly skilled team, call Reverence Behavioral Health Services or schedule an appointment online today.