What Is Bipolar Disorder And How Do You Treat It?
Heather Colman
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a
diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders where
the person experiences states or episodes of depression and/or
mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. Left untreated, it is a
severely disabling psychiatric condition.
The difference between bipolar disorder and major depression is
that bipolar disorder involves "energized" or "activated" mood
states in addition to depressed mood states. The duration and
intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the
illness.
Fluctuating from one mood state to another is called "cycling"
or having mood swings. Mood swings cause impairment not only in
one's mood, but also in one's energy level, sleep pattern,
activity level, social rhythms and thinking abilities. Many
people become fully disabled, for some period of time, after
being diagnosed, and during this time may have great difficulty
functioning.
The vast majority of people diagnosed with suffer from
depression. In fact, there is at least a 3 to 1 ratio of time
spent depressed versus time spent in a normal mood or hypomanic
or manic during the course of the bipolar I subtype of the
illness. People with the bipolar II subtype remain depressed
for substantially longer. Up to 37 times longer than bipolar I.
A 2003 study by Robert Hirschfeld, M.D., of the University of
Texas, Galveston found bipolar patients fared worse in their
depressions than unipolar patients.
In terms of disability, lost years of productivity and
potential for suicide, bipolar depression is now recognized as
the most insidious aspect of the illness.
Severe depression may be accompanied by symptoms of psychosis.
These symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. They may
also suffer from paranoid thoughts of being persecuted or
monitored by some powerful entity such as the government or a
hostile force.
Intense and unusual religious beliefs may also be present, such
as patients' strong insistence that they have a God-given role
to play in the world, a great and historic mission to
accomplish, or even that they possess supernatural powers.
Delusions in a depression may be far more distressing,
sometimes taking the form of intense guilt for supposed wrongs
that the patient believes he or she has inflicted on others.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Currently bipolar disorder cannot be cured but it can be
managed. The emphasis of treatment is on effective management
of the long-term course of the illness, which can involve
treatment of emergent symptoms. Treatment methods include
pharmacological and psychological techniques.
A variety of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder.
Most people with bipolar disorder require combinations of
medications.
Relapse of Bipolar Disorder
Even when on medication, some people may still experience
weaker episodes or have a complete manic or depressive episode.
The following behaviors can lead to depressive or manic relapse:
* Discontinuing or lowering one's dose of medication without
consulting one's physician.
* Being under or over medicated. Generally, taking a lower
dosage of a mood stabilizer can lead to relapse into mania.
Taking a lower dosage of an antidepressant, may cause the
patient to relapse into depression, while higher doses can
cause destabilization into mixed-states or mania.
* Taking other psychotropic or recreational drugs such as
marijuana, cocaine, or heroin. These can cause the condition to
worsen.
* An inconsistent sleep schedule can destabilize the illness.
Too much sleep can lead to depression, while too little sleep
can lead to mixed states or mania.
* Excessive amounts of caffeine can cause destabilization of
mood toward irritability, dysphoria and mania.
* Inadequate stress management and poor lifestyle choices. If
unmedicated, excessive stress can cause the individual to
relapse. Medication raises the stress threshold somewhat, but
too much stress still causes relapse.
Disclaimer
The information presented here should not be interpreted as
medical advice. If you or someone you know is suffers from a
bipolar disorder, please seek professional medical advice for
the latest treatment options.
Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no
changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.
About The Author: This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather
Colman. Find more Bipolar Disorder resources at:
http://www.bipolar-disorder-press.info
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