Bipolar Disorder & Mood Stabilizer Management

Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania or hypomania (elevated or irritable mood, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, pressured speech, impulsivity) that may alternate with major depressive episodes. During acute mania, safety and de-escalation take priority over reasoning or arguing with grandiose beliefs — a calm, low-stimulation environment, clear and consistent limits, and monitoring of nutrition/hydration/sleep (patients may be too active or grandiose to attend to basic needs) are the nursing focus, not confrontation.