What is Bipolar Disorder and How do You Treat it?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders where a 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 includes "energized" or "activated" mood states in addition to depressed mood states. The duration and intensity of mood states varies greatly among people with this disease. Fluctuating from one mood state to another is called "cycling" or mood swings. Mood swings cause deterioration not only in mood, but also in energy levels, sleep patterns, activity levels, social rhythms and thinking skills. Many people become fully disabled for a period of time after being diagnosed and may have great difficulty functioning during this time. The vast majority of people with a diagnosis suffer from depression. In fact, there is at least a 3-to-1 ratio of time spent depressed to time spent in normal mood or hypomanic or manic during the course of bipolar I subtype illness. People with bipolar II subtype remain depressed significantly longer. Up to 37 times longer than bipolar I. A 2003 study by Robert Hirschfeld, M.D., of the University of Texas, Galveston, found that 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 considered 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 watched 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 fulfill, or even that they have supernatural powers. Delusions in depression can be much more disturbing, sometimes taking the form of intense guilt for perceived wrongs the patient believes he or she has inflicted on others. Treatment of Bipolar Disorder There is currently no cure for bipolar disorder, but it can be managed. The emphasis of treatment is on effective management of the long-term course of the disease, which may include treatment of acute symptoms. Treatment methods include pharmacological and psychological techniques. A variety of medications are used to treat bipolar disorder. Most people with bipolar disorder require a combination of medications. Relapse of bipolar disorder Even with medication, some people may still experience milder episodes or have a full-blown manic or depressive episode. The following behaviors can lead to a depressive or manic relapse: * Stopping or reducing the dose of medication without consulting a doctor. * Being under or over medicated. In general, taking a lower dose of a mood stabilizer can lead to a relapse of mania. Taking lower doses of antidepressants can cause the patient to relapse into depression, while higher doses can cause destabilization into mixed states or mania. * Use of other psychotropic or recreational drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroin. These can cause a worsening of the condition. * An inconsistent sleep schedule can destabilize the disease. Too much sleep can lead to depression, while too little sleep can lead to mixed states or mania. * Excessive caffeine can cause mood destabilization towards irritability, dysphoria and mania. * Inadequate stress management and poor lifestyle choices. If left untreated, excessive stress can cause an individual to relapse. Medications raise the stress threshold somewhat, but too much stress still causes relapse. Disclaimer The information contained herein should not be construed as medical advice. If you or someone you know suffers from bipolar disorder, please seek professional medical advice about the latest treatment options.