Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic depression, is a mental health disorder that is distinguished by dramatic swings in a person's mood, from the elated highs of mania to the lows of depression. Bipolar disorder affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Although this is a lifelong mental illness that has a great risk of reoccurring episodes, behavior therapy and the right combination of medications can help most people with bipolar disorder can live normal, productive lives.
Prevention
- Bipolar disorder cannot be prevented
Symptoms
- Symptoms fall between two extreme mood states: Bipolar depression and Bipolar mania.
- There are many varying symptoms ranging from hallucinations to irritability.
Treatment
- Bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychotherapy
Cure
- There is no cure for bipolar disorder but through interventions people can live practically normal lives
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Risk Factors
Risk factors for bipolar disorder include the following:
- If a family member has bipolar disorder, other family members may be at risk. However, stress of some kind often is needed to trigger the disease.
- Certain drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine (speed), can trigger bipolar disorder.
Some people are affected by the seasons and may be more depressed during the winter (see Seasonal Depression). - Bipolar disorder may be caused by severe emotional stress at some time in life.
- A viral infection may bring on the disease.
- Most people never know why they develop bipolar disorder.
It’s not always Bipolar disorder
Not everyone with severe mood swings or a change in personality has bipolar disorder. Medical diseases, medications, other psychiatric conditions, and drug abuse can mimic or have symptoms similar to bipolar disorder include the following:
- Head trauma (blood clot or bleeding in the brain)
- Thyroid problem (both underactive and overactive)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (a condition that may affect various body organs, including the brain)
- Brain tumor
- Epilepsy (seizures)
- Neurosyphilis (a form of the sexually transmitted disease, syphilis, that has gone to the brain because it went untreated too long)
- AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome the ultimate result of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV)
- Sodium imbalance (sodium, one of several elements found in body cells that is necessary for their proper function)
- Diabetes mellitus (a disorder of, among other things, sugar processing in the body)
- Certain medications that decrease the amount of serotonin or norepinephrine, such as some antihypertensive drugs and some preparations of steroids and birth control pills
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Drug abuse (cocaine, methamphetamine use)
- Bulimia nervosa
- Panic disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Social phobia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Delusional disorder
SYMPTOMS &TYPES -
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
As mentioned before, Bipolar Disorder is characterized by dramatic mood swings from episodes of Mania (highs) to episodes of Depression (lows)
Symptoms and signs of mania (manic esipode):
- Increased energy and restlessness
- Extreme optimism
- Rapid speech and racing thoughts
- Risky behavior
- Increased physical activity
- Extreme irritability
- Little sleep needed
- Poor judgement
- Easily distracted, inability to concentrate
- Abuse of drugs, alchohol and medications
- Agressive behavior
Symptoms and signs of depression (depressive episode):
- Lasting sadness and hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Problems sleeping or oversleeping
- Change of appetite and/or weight gain or loss
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in daily activities
- Chronic pain without a known cause
- Problems concentrating
- Irritability and restlessness
- Anxiety
In some cases, these episodes of mania or depression include signs of psychosis (psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are: hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or sensing things that are not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning). Pschotic symptoms often reflect the extreme mood state at the time. People may be delusional even up to the point where they believe they are President or possess magical powers, and down to the point where they feel immence but unexplained guilt or worthlessness, believing that they have committed a horrible crime or are ruined.
Types of Bipolar Disorder:
There are four main types of Bipolar Disorder: - Bipolar I Disorder--In this type, you have had at least one episode of mania or mixed mood and often experience depression too. In between your mood may be normal. Mood swings may happen when the seasons change
- Bipolar II Disorder--In this type, you have had at least one episode of depression and at least one period of hypomania (a milder type of mania). Like as in Bipolar I, your mood may be normal in between these episodes and may experience swings when the seasons change.
- Cyclothymic Disorder--This is a milder form of Bipolar Disorder. You may go back and forth between slightly elevated moods and mild depression, and these mood swings are less severe. This type of often progresses into a stronger Bipolar Disorder (although not for everyone).
- Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder--This means they have had four or more periods of mania and/or depression a year.
The feelings of bipolar disorder vary from person to person.
DIAGNOSIS & TESTS/TREATMENT & CARE
Diagonsis &Tests
Diagnosis is primarily based on self-reported experiences of an individual, or abnormalities reported by family members, friends, co –workers, etc. This is followed by secondary signs reported by nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, etc. the criteria for someone to be diagnosed depends on the presence and duration of certain signs and symptoms.
Bipolar disorder cannot be prevented so it’s important to be aware of the early warning signs and symptoms.
There are no biological tests which can confirm bipolar disorder, but there are tests which can rule out other medical illnesses. The doctor may have a patient fill out a mood questionnaire to help identify symptoms of bipolar disorder
Neuroimaging tests can be used to see how the body is metabolizing a drug a patient is being given for treatment. EEG’s and MRI’s can show the differences between bipolar disorder and related behavioral syndromes which may have the same symptoms in children.
Treatment
There is no cure for Bipolar Disorder. It is a lifelong mental illness that has a great risk of recurrent episodes.
The combination of therapy and medication can help people live normal, productive lives.
Medication
The likelihood of having a relapse when you go off medications is great so you may need to stay on some medication or combination of medications indefinitely to keep your mood stable.
Lithium is the most widely known medication used to treat bipolar disorder, but doctors may also prescribe Symbyax (a combination pill), or anti-anxiety medications.
Combining an antidepressant with an antipsychotic drug may be helpful for bipolar disorder, because antidepressants alone sometimes trigger mania in susceptible people.
Psychotherapy
The aim of psychotherapy is to relieve you of symptoms and to help you manage your problems better.
Examples are Cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to correct ingrained patterns of negative thoughts and behaviors. You are taught to recognize distorted, self-critical thoughts.
Interpersonal therapy concentrates on your current relationships, both at work and at home.
Therapy centers on one of four specific problems.
- Grief over a recent loss
- Conflicts about roles and social expectations
- The effect of a major change
- Social isolation
Electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most effective methods for treatment but usually is not performed unless many drugs have failed. The purpose of ECT is to induce a seizure, which acts as the therapeutic agent. When there is a good response, the improvement occurs gradually over the course of treatment.
LIVING & MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT & RESOURCES
Behavioral counseling
Different types of talk therapy options are available to help those with bipolar disorder prevent or cope with a mood episode:
Individual Counseling: This is a one-on-one session with a professional therapist with experience in bipolar disorders in which the patient's problem areas are addressed. The session may include help accepting the diagnosis, education about bipolar moods, ways to identify warning signs, and intervention strategies to manage stress.
Family Counseling: Bipolar disorder extends beyond the patient and can affect the entire family. Families are frequently involved in outpatient therapy as they receive education about bipolar disorder and work with the therapist and patient to learn how to recognize early warnings of an impending manic or depressive episode.
Group Counseling: Group sessions allow for the sharing of feelings and the development of effective coping strategies. The give-and-take at group sessions can be the most productive way to change the way you think about bipolar disorder and improve coping skills as you face life's challenges.
Bipolar Disorder Coping Resources for Family Members
Finding support is as important for family as it is for patients. Living with a person who has bipolar disorder involves learning how to deal with the disruptions that symptoms can create, supporting the person through their recovery, and finding ways to cope with the effects on the family.
How bipolar disorder can affect the family…
- Emotional distress such as guilt, grief, and worry
- Disruption in regular routines
- Having to deal with bizarre or reckless behavior
- Financial stresses as a result of reduced income or spending sprees
- Strained marital or family relationships
- Changes in family roles
- Difficulty in maintaining relationships outside the family
- Health problems as a result of stress
What can family members and loved ones do?
1) Become an Expert
Knowledge demystifies a terrible unknown, reducing something overwhelming to an illness that people can and do manage effectively every day. Knowledge will also help you understand your important place in your loved one's recovery plan. Education for the whole family can improve symptom management and medication compliance, help prevent relapses, and alleviate stress for everyone.
2) Allow yourself to grieve
Family member grief about the illness of a loved one might be caused by a combination of things. This does not make you a bad person, and it does not mean that you are rejecting your loved one for who he or she is now. As you acknowledge the reality of what is lost, you can eventually start focusing on what has remained intact, and even what has been gained, through this experience.
3) Help with the recovery process
Family members especially are in the best position to observe changes in behavior, help track the effectiveness of medications, learn the warning signs of relapse, and make the living environment as supportive and stress-free as possible. As "inside observers" to the ill person's behavior, family can provide invaluable insight for the psychiatrists and other professionals concerned with effectively managing a loved one's disease.
Because poor insight (inability to acknowledge illness) is a hallmark of manic depression, a person may be unlikely to seek help for themselves when they need it, or faithfully take medications that help stabilize them.
4) Learn to Recognize and Deal With Symptoms
You will begin to learn some particular "warning signs" that indicate your loved one may be headed towards a manic or a depressive episode. There are things you can do to help stabilize them, or barring that, help them through the episode as best you can.
5) Care for Yourself
You are a concerned and loving family member, not a miracle worker. There is only so much you can and should do. You cannot cure bipolar, you cannot perfectly control episodes, and you cannot make your loved one's decisions for them. Trying to be all and do all will eventually wear you out. Always remember that your life and happiness is your own responsibility and right, and that your loved one must take a similar responsibility for themselves.
- Find a support group - family members recommend peer-to-peer support groups as invaluable for providing advice, suggestions, coping strategies, and much-needed empathy for the struggles you go through. These are the people that understand, and have been there too. Try starting with your local chapter of NAMI (a U.S. national organization for the mentally ill and family members).
