Mood Disorders and Long-Term Follow-Up
Mood Disorders and Long-Term Psychiatric Follow-Up
Many psychiatric disorders are not short-term conditions that pass quickly, like the flu; they require long-term medical management (maintenance therapy), much like diabetes or hypertension. Especially in the treatment of disorders that cause extreme mood swings, the trust relationship the patient builds with their doctor and their adherence to treatment are the keys to success.
Click here to view the approach to bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition characterized by alternating episodes of "depression," during which a person feels down, unhappy, and lacking in energy, and "mania/hypomania," during which a person is excessively elated, talkative, sleeps little, and is prone to risky behaviors. At our clinic, mood-stabilizing medications are carefully administered to alleviate the patient’s episodes and prevent new episodes from occurring (preventive treatment), and blood levels are regularly monitored.
Click here to learn about the importance of long-term follow-up and medication adherence
The biggest mistake made in psychiatric treatment is when a patient suddenly stops taking their medication without consulting their doctor the moment they start feeling better (usually after 2–3 months). This can lead to a much more severe relapse of the condition (such as depression or anxiety) because the brain’s chemistry has not yet fully stabilized.
At our clinic, the process of discontinuing treatment or reducing medication doses is carried out gradually and completely safely, based on the doctor’s decision following a long-term evaluation of the patient’s clinical condition.
This content was prepared by Egemed Hospitals.
Published: April 9, 2026 - 1:07 AM • Last Updated: April 9, 2026
