Knowing what we know about 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, such as stimulants, can produce manic-like behavior and should be avoided. Foods do not contain significant amounts of neurotransmitters, so option A is incorrect. Lithium is a commonly used medication for bipolar disorder, so option C is incorrect. Keeping serotonin levels normal may be helpful, but it is not a guarantee against manic episodes, so option D is incorrect.

Knowing What We Know About Neurotransmitter Imbalances in Bipolar Disorder