Knowing what we know about the neurotransmitter imbalances in bipolar disorder, a physician should give which of the following pieces of advice?
A) "Eat lots of foods that are rich in norepinephrine."
B) "Don't take drugs that increase dopamine levels because they can produce manic-like behavior."
C) "Stay away from drugs that include lithium because bipolar is associated with excessive lithium activity."
D) "If you can keep your serotonin levels normal, you do not have to worry about having a manic episode."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bipolar disorder is associated with imbalances in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. Drugs that increase dopamine levels can trigger manic episodes, so it is important to avoid them. Advice about eating foods rich in norepinephrine is not helpful as norepinephrine cannot be directly obtained from food. Lithium is actually a commonly prescribed medication for bipolar disorder, so avoiding it is not necessary. The suggestion that normal serotonin levels can prevent manic episodes is also incorrect as serotonin does not have a significant impact on bipolar disorder symptoms.

Knowing What We Know About the Neurotransmitter Imbalances in Bipolar