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Adult Bipolar Disorders: Understanding Your Diagnosis & Getting Help
Waltz, Mitzi. Sebastopol, Calif.: O’Reilly & Associates, 2002. Paperback, 371 pages.
This easy-to-read “patient-centered guide” addresses the usual information on bipolar disorders—definitions, diagnosis, medication, and talk therapies. The chapter “Living with Bipolar Disorders” includes sections on going to college, working, whether to “come out” at work, the Americans with Disabilities Act, medical leave (including the Family and Medical Leave Act), and legal and financial planning.
Of particular note to readers, and often glossed over by other authors, are chapters on complementary therapies and health care insurance.
The author begins the section on complementary therapies by advising the reader not to rely on these therapies alone, but to use them only as adjuncts to traditional therapies (medication and psychotherapy) included in the treatment plan. A variety of complementary treatments are reviewed, including supplements (health and nutritional, such as essential fatty acids), herbal remedies, acupuncture, message, help with sleep problems, and sensory integration therapy (identification and reduction of disturbing sensory stimuli).
Forty pages are devoted to negotiating the U.S. health-care system, and some comparable information is given for other English-speaking countries. The book provides practical information, such as what questions to ask when choosing an insurance company, how to talk on the phone to managed-care staffers (even tricks to use), how to document any information received, and how to negotiate the appeals process. It also discusses carve-outs for mental health, COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act), SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and finding help in getting medications when you cannot afford them.
The phone numbers and e-mail addresses found throughout the book and the appendix, which lists resources for information are very helpful. Peculiarly, DRADA is mentioned in the preface as providing “much-appreciated assistance,” but it is not listed on the resources.
By Marion Ehrlich
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