Description
Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings:
- Manic episodes: Periods of elevated mood, irritability, or increased energy
- Depressive episodes: Periods of sadness, hopelessness, or low energy
Other symptoms include:
- Changes in thinking, behavior, and sleep
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Uncontrollable crying
- Thoughts of death or suicide
This panel includes the following test:
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Lithium
TSH
Fasting not required.
Additional information about each test is listed below:
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is important for someone with manic depression (bipolar disorder) because it can help identify potential underlying metabolic issues that might be contributing to or exacerbated by the mental health condition, including issues related to liver function, kidney function, blood sugar levels, and electrolyte imbalances, which can all manifest as symptoms similar to manic or depressive episodes; essentially acting as a screening tool to rule out other medical causes for the symptoms and monitor potential side effects of medications used to treat bipolar disorder.
Lithium is used in the treatment of manic-depression/bipolar disorder. It is important to monitor levels of lithium as the dosage is titrated by your provider. Monitoring chemistries, especially kidney function, should be performed periodically. Lithium can also affect thyroid function and should be evaluated as recommended by your provider. An order from your provider is not necessary.
A TSH blood test, which measures thyroid function, is important for people experiencing manic depression (bipolar disorder) because research suggests a potential link between thyroid imbalances and mood fluctuations, where abnormal thyroid hormone levels could contribute to or exacerbate manic or depressive episodes, making it crucial to monitor and manage thyroid function in such patients.
