Bipolar Disorder
Also commonly known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a psychiatric brain disorder. People suffering from the disease experience extreme and unusual shifts in mood and energy that can affect their ability to function on a normal basis. The disease most often becomes apparent in late adolescence or early adulthood, although there are exceptions. It affects over two million Americans.
Symptoms
The most obvious symptoms are dramatic mood swings,
alternating between mania, which feels like an extreme “high”, and depression,
when patients often feel inexplicably sad and hopeless. Normal moods often
occur between these cycles.
- Mania can be characterized by:
- An excessively good mood
- An increase in energy and restlessness
- Inability to concentrate
- A decreased need for sleep
- More aggressive behavior
- Extreme irritability
- Poor judgment and unrealistic beliefs in one’s own abilities
- Depression can be characterized by:
- Long-lasting moods of sadness or anxiety
- Feeling pessimistic or hopeless
- A decrease in energy and fatigue
- Either sleeping too much, or being unable to sleep
- Lack of interest in activities you normally enjoy
- Feeling guilty or helpless
- Thoughts or attempts at suicide
Bipolar disorder sufferers can experience a broad spectrum of states, from severe mania to severe depression. They may experience states in between these extremes, such as mild mania, mild depression or normal moods.
- Bipolar I Disorder: People experience recurrent episodes of mania and depression
- Bipolar II Disorder: People experience mild mania, also called hypomania, alternating with depression
- Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder: People experience at least four episodes of mania or depression within a year.
Bipolar disorder is the result of a combination of multiple factors, but doctors and researchers are still unsure of what exactly causes the disorder.
- Genetics appear to contribute to the likeliness of having bipolar disorder. It tends to run in families, but is not caused by a single gene. The disorder is not entirely genetic, as it is also caused by many genes acting together with environmental factors.
- Studies of the brain indicate that the brains of people with bipolar disorder differ from people without it. More research needs to be done to identify specific characteristics.
With proper medical attention, many people with bipolar disorder can bring their mood swings and other symptoms under control. Most treatments use a combination of medication and psychosocial treatment for long-term care.
- The most common medications prescribed are long-term “mood stabilizers” such as lithium, valproate, and carbamazepine. Doctors may prescribe other drugs for short, intense bursts of mania and depression.
- Psychosocial treatments include talking with a psychologist, social worker, or counselor. These professionals work with psychiatrists to treat the patient. There are several types of psychosocial treatments widely used.
- Cognitive behavior therapy: patients learn to change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
- Psychoeducation:
Patients are taught the symptoms of the disease, so that they can seek
help early and avoid severe mood swings.
- Family therapy: Professionals work with the patient and his or her family to lower the level of distress in the family. Such distress can either heighten the disease or be a result of the patient’s behavior.
- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy: Patients work to improve their interpersonal skills and form daily routines that can reduce mood swings.
- If these types of treatments, either alone or in combination, fail to produce results, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be attempted. This type of therapy is effective in treating severe episodes of mania or depression, or episodes where both are combined. The risks of memory problems have been reduced, but there are still risks involved with the treatment.
