The college years are a complex time developmentally:
Students are defining their physical and mental limits and
their relationships with authority figures and peers, as well
as forming a more coherent identity and making career
choices.22 Campus life is complex: It is not unusual to have
erratic sleep patterns, drink alcohol, and take drugs, to be
in intense relationships, and to do things under pressure at
the last minute by staying up all night. All of these factors
complicate the treatment of the student with bipolar
disorder. Health care providers should make lifestyle recommendations
taking into account the culture of college life.
They should help students recognize their mood states and
develop strategies to promote stability. The importance of
relationships with friends and family and the role of open
communication in maintaining stability should not be forgotten.
Prescribers need to pay close attention to medication
side effects, in particular those that affect academic functioning,
and make changes in response to both side effects and
mood variation.
Health care providers can take advantage of the culture
of learning, self-exploration, and tolerance to relieve some
of the pain of adaptation. As well, the provider can take