Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: What are the Differences?
The difference between flight of ideas and tangents is the way they are formed. When someone has a strong association with something, it becomes very hard to break off from that association. For example, if I have a strong connection with my parents or family members, then breaking away from them would be difficult. If I had a weak connection with them, then breaking away from them would be easy. Similarly, when one has a strong association with a subject matter, it becomes very hard to think about anything else related to that topic. For example, if I have a strong connection with music, then thinking about other things related to music would become extremely difficult. If I had a weak connection with music, then thinking about other subjects related to music would become easy.
Flight of ideas refers to the fact that individuals tend to form strong connections with many different topics. These include religion, politics, sports teams, movies and television shows. Individuals may even connect so strongly with their favorite TV show that they will not want to watch any other program related to the same topic. The reason why these people feel compelled to stay connected is because they feel like there is no escape from their current situation. They cannot imagine living without this particular topic.
Treatment for Flight of Ideas
Treatment for flight of ideas usually involves medication. An individual may be placed on an antipsychotic that will help to control their mood. The specific dosage is determined by the doctor who is overseeing the treatment plan. It is very easy to over-medicate an individual who suffers from this type of disorder, so it is important to remain patient while the care team examines different treatment options.
Once an individual’s mood has stabilized, then they can begin to wean off of their medication. Most people are able to decrease the dosage slowly until they are able to remain symptom-free without any type of medication.
Does Antipsychotic Medication Cause Diabetes?
Some individuals have claimed that antipsychotic medications cause diabetes. This is not entirely true. Antipsychotic drugs do increase the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. In most cases, the medication causes the individual to gain weight, which increases their risk of developing this condition. It is important for patients to remain active while they are taking their medication and to eat a healthy diet in order to lower their risk of developing this condition.
Patients should not stop taking their medication without consulting a physician first. If an individual stops taking their medication, then they are likely to experience a return of their original symptoms. This may cause them to become afraid of the medication, which could make it difficult to keep taking it on a regular basis.
An antipsychotic medication called Clozapine is particularly likely to cause diabetes in patients. In some cases, the benefits of this medication may outweigh the risks if a person’s condition is severe. If an individual experiences any signs of diabetic symptoms such as blurry vision, frequent urination or extreme thirst, they should seek medical treatment immediately.
Further Reading
Diabetes and Mental Health
Bipolar Disorder and Diabetes
Return to List of Neurological Disorders
Return to List of Mental Health Disorders
Return from Antipsychotic Medications to Information and Facts About Mental Health Disorders
Return from Antipsychotic Medications to Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Sources & references used in this article:
The many faces of bipolar disorder: how to tell them apart by L Citrome, JF Goldberg – Postgraduate medicine, 2005 – Taylor & Francis
Diagnostic guidelines for bipolar disorder: a summary of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Diagnostic Guidelines Task Force Report by SN Ghaemi, M Bauer, F Cassidy, GS Malhi… – … disorders, 2008 – Wiley Online Library
A prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder‐I phenotype: review of phenomenology and longitudinal course by JL Craney, B Geller – Bipolar Disorders, 2003 – Wiley Online Library
Psychotic symptoms in pediatric bipolar disorder by MN Pavuluri, ES Herbener, JA Sweeney – Journal of Affective Disorders, 2004 – Elsevier
