Steve Asks... As a police officer diagnosed with bipolar illness two years ago, and due to a recent episode that resulted in hospitalization, I am currently on sick leave. I will be applying for disability with their blessing. The question is whether police work in general, and working nights for many years will be qualifying for a disability. I hope to find a less stressful career but after many years on the force, what, I don’t know. Anyone? Has anyone had the same diagnosis in a similar profession?

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog Susan Asks... I believe that my sister is bipolar. She has all the symptoms. She is 36 and has two kids. I have tried talking with her about seeing a doctor but she seems to think she doesn’t need any help. I just worry about her, and I would love some advice on how to handle the situation without losing a sister.

With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. Over the past several weeks, we covered five commonly used atypical antipsychotics, including Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Seroquel (quetiapine). Because the Zyprexa post contains a great deal of information that applies to the atypical antipsychotics as a group, we encourage you to read it first.

Mom Asks... I attended a local NAMI conference 4 years ago where the guest speaker was the head of the school of medicine’s psychiatry department. He promised that within 5 years there would be truly effective medications and within 10 a cure for bipolar disorder. How close are we? I am so frustrated and angry with the pharmaceutical industry, the politics and funding that delay real research, but mostly by the chase for the almighty dollar. It seems that all of the recent medications are just tweaks of previous medications that allow new copyrights and obscene profits. What real difference is there between Haldol, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Geodon, Abilify and all the rest, other than the opportunity for the pharmaceuticals to make unconscionable profits? Where is research in the spirit of a Jonas Salk?

Since the launch of Bipolar Beat, our Ask a Question page has solicited questions about bipolar disorder from visitors. We thank all of you who have taken the time to post a question and apologize to those whose questions we have not yet answered.

Bipolar disorder often involves bouts of depression or mania that require hospitalization, which can be particularly stressful for both the person being hospitalized and his or her loved ones. Most stressful, perhaps, is the idea of going to an unfamiliar place, particularly if you’re being hospitalized for mania accompanied by paranoia. In addition, you may be worried about whether your insurance will cover the hospitalization and for how long and how this facility stacks up to other available facilities in your area.

With this post, we continue our biweekly series on medications used to treat bipolar disorder and related symptoms. Over the past several weeks, we covered four commonly used atypical antipsychotics, including Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Seroquel (quetiapine). Because the Zyprexa post contains a great deal of information that applies to the atypical antipsychotics as a group, we encourage you to read it first.

Syndicated from the Bipolar Blog with a couple minor edits Q: I am a job coach. I help get jobs for disabled people and help train them. I have had several clients who have bipolar disorder. They do not seem to be able to keep jobs no matter what field we put them in. Many of them are great workers but getting them to come on time (if at all) is a big deal. Is there a way to work with people who have bipolar that would make them more successful? It is frustrating to know that they can do the job and they love the job and the people they work with, but they cannot keep the job because of not showing up on time or not calling in when they’re going to miss work. Please let me know if you have any ideas that can help us help them.