Hi folks, if you’re long-time readers of mine, you might remember me mentioning Global Medical Education. This site, literally, offers you up-to-date, medical information, from experts in short video format for free. (This used to be a subscription service but they have changed their model — to the benefit of all of us.) And while I do have a working relationship with this site, I can honestly tell you their content is great, generally easy to understand, and covers a wide range of medical issues.

Patient Information from Global Medical Education

This brings me to why we’re here. Today I’m asking to get your thoughts on what topics Global Medical Education should include in their library. Share your thoughts and you’ll be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

As you’ll see below, Global Medical Education currently addresses many patient issues (including bipolar issues), but they want to do more. So read the list below and tell me (and them) what they’re missing. What else do you want to know about bipolar disorder and other patient-centered medical topics; because, let’s face it, if you’re wondering about it, then other people are, too, so sharing your thoughts could help our community at large (not to mention better educate doctors about our, real-world, concerns).

Here is a complete list of their existing patient-concern videos. Please leave suggestions for additional videos in the comments section below (links in the following link to other articles on my site, FYI):

Note: I know this is a lot but if you think of a topic and hit ctrl+f to find the keyword that you’re thinking of, that will narrow the list to see if it has already been covered.

Patient Information Videos on Bipolar Disorder

The following videos mention bipolar disorder specifically, but many below them are also relevant for bipolar disorder.

  • Can a person fully recover from bipolar disorder?
  • What is the difference between bipolar disorder and depression?
  • What are the latest treatment options for bipolar and depression? How effective are they?
  • Are there any bipolar treatments that do not cause weight gain?
  • How long does it take to find an effective treatment for bipolar disorder?
  • How long do medications work for, and what should I do if my medication stops working?
  • What kind of psychotherapies work best for bipolar disorder?
  • What should I do if I find that I cannot work because of bipolar disorder?
  • What kind of alternative therapies work for bipolar disorder?
  • What should I do if my doctor does not know what to do after I haven’t responded to bipolar treatments?
  • Why is cognition important in depression and bipolar?
  • Difference between bipolar disorder and personality disorder
  • Difference between bipolar disorder and major depression
  • Can psychostimulants be used in bipolar disorder or are they too dangerous?

Patient Information Videos on Depression

  • How To Treat Comorbid Anxiety and Depression
  • Symptomatic Versus Functional Improvement in Major Depression
  • Advantages of Rapid Onset of Antidepressant Effects
  • What antidepressants have the fewest side effects?
  • How do I know which antidepressant is the right one for me?
  • When is psychotherapy a good option for depression treatment? Can I do it instead of taking medication?
  • What kind of alternatives work the best for depression?
  • Are new antidepressants better than ones developed a decade or two ago?
  • What do I do if I’m depressed, and I need help, but my parents won’t listen to me?
  • Do antidepressants actually work?
  • Can antidepressants cause sleep disturbances?
  • Does St. John’s Wort work for depression?
  • Does metal folate have any role in the treatment of depression?
  • Is there a role for newer antidepressants for the treatment of depression?
  • Why is it important for me to take my antidepressant for the long term?
  • Which works better—ECT or rTMS?
  • Antidepressants Can Affect Your Sleep
  • Sleep and Depression: An Intricate Relationship
  • Relationship of Depression with Your Sleep Patterns
  • Red Flags for Depression in Women
  • Physical Illness and Depression Relationship Often Confusing
  • Can Antidepressant Treatment be Personalized?
  • How Cognitive Symptoms of Depression Affect Your Life
  • Gender Differences in Reporting Depression
  • Do Antidepressant Add-On Medications Really Help Treat Depression?
  • Depression Medications Don’t Work Well for Everyone
  • Minimizing Severity of Depression
  • How Long Should You Take an Antidepressant?
  • Difference between generic and trade name antidepressants
  • Problems getting off of antidepressants, am I addicted?
  • My family member responded to a particular antidepressant, is that the one I should be on?
  • Role of gene testing in choosing right antidepressant
  • Role of marijuana in helping symptoms of depression and anxiety
  • Can antidepressants make my anxiety worse?
  • Relationship between antidepressant medications and suicide
  • Can some psychiatric medications reduce the risk for suicide?
  • Are there any cures for depression?
  • Does trauma cause depression?
  • Can blood tests or brain scans diagnose depression?
  • Am I an appropriate candidate for a ketamine infusion?
  • How does ketamine work in depression?
  • Where can I find a provider who offers ketamine therapy?
  • My depression is better, my functioning is not
  • My antidepressants no longer work. What should I do?
  • Are pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome the same thing as depression?
  • Does depression cause binge eating disorder?
  • Are two antidepressants working together always better than just one?
  • Will my antidepressant medication change my personality?
  • Can I drink alcohol while taking antidepressant medication?
  • I have heard a lot about deep brain stimulation. What is the latest on this in depression?
  • Does chronic use of benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, valium, etc) cause depression?
  • Are opiates dangerous to use if you are depressed?
  • Do antidepressants make a person euphoric?

Other Patient-Related Health Topics

  • How To Assess Functional Recovery
  • What changes in sleep are considered normal with healthy aging?
  • How many cups of coffee, tea, or soda can I safely consume if I have insomnia?
  • Is it okay to spend more time in bed if I’m having a hard time sleeping?
  • How does exposure to sound, temperature, and light affect your sleep?
  • Patient information videos on bipolar are great -- but what do you want to see in a health-related patient information video, Global Medication Education wants to know.What is the relationship between shift work and sleep?
  • What is the relationship of jet lag and sleep?
  • Why am I always tired?
  • What does vivid dreaming mean?
  • My legs are restless when I go to bed—what does this mean?
  • What is the relationship of snoring and sleep apnea?
  • What is narcolepsy?
  • How much sleep do we need?
  • Can sleep medications affect wakefulness?
  • What is our current understanding of insomnia?
  • What are the causes of daytime drowsiness?
  • Can alcohol affect my sleep?
  • Can exercise affect my sleep?
  • Can using a smartphone or a tablet affect my sleep?
  • What is the role of genetic testing in psychiatry today?
  • Nausea and Psychiatric Medications
  • Tips For Managing Nausea as a Side Effect
  • Sexual Dysfunction and Psychiatric Medications
  • Tips For Managing Sexual Dysfunction as a Side Effect
  • Weight and Psychiatric Medications
  • Tips For Managing Weight Gain as a Side Effect
  • How do I know if something is a side effect of my medication, or part of my illness?
  • When should I stop or change medications because of side effects?
  • Do I have to just live with side effects?
  • How can I get my doctor to take my side effects seriously?
  • How To Avoid Ruining Your Sleep
  • When Should Patients with Insomnia See a Sleep Specialist
  • Does using marijuana or other substances cause mood disorders or psychoses?
  • Best way to manage sexual dysfunction with my mood disorder medications
  • Best way to manage weight gain with my mood disorder medications
  • Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
  • Cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
  • Treatments for negative symptoms of schizophrenia
  • Treatments for cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
  • What is clozapine and how is it different?
  • Who is a candidate for long-acting antipsychotic medication
  • Fast-acting options for agitation in an emergency room
  • How new antipsychotics available today different
  • Why are combinations of medications used?
  • Options for affording medication cost
  • Binge eating disorder
  • Treatments for binge eating disorder
  • Is everyone with binge eating disorder fat?
  • Everyone in my family eats a lot. Do we all have binge eating disorder?
  • I cannot fall asleep before 4 AM and need to sleep until noon
  • Sleeping pills and messy kitchens
  • Inadequate sleep time on weekdays and catching up on weekends
  • Role for kava kava natural supplements for my insomnia
  • Sleep apnea, CPAP, camping and no electricity
  • Sixty years old and I flail in my sleep
  • Night shifts, sleepy driving, can opening car window help
  • Common signs of narcolepsy
  • Best way to put more routine into my sleeping schedule
  • Difficulty falling asleep, what time to take melatonin
  • I am tired all the time, should I see a sleep specialist?
  • First thing I should do to improve my sleep
  • My child falls asleep in class, should I have her seen by a doctor?
  • Should I ask my doctor for a prescription of stimulant medications for my tiredness?
  • My legs feel restless in bed at night
  • My son is always late for school as I cannot get him out of bed, why is that?
  • Whenever I nap I dream, is that normal?
  • Why did my doctor prescribe me an antipsychotic medication if I haven’t been psychotic?
  • How often should I see my prescribing clinician for follow up visits?
  • How do I decide if I should take medication or do talk therapy?

So, what’s missing? What do you want to know about? It can be about bipolar or any other patient concern you may have.

And remember to leave your real email address when you leave a suggestion so I can let you know if you win an Amazon gift certificate.

(If you’d like to browse all their videos in a more organized way, see here.)

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