BIPOLAR DISORDER
By Beth Atkinson & Hannah Tait
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Bipolar disorder is a
condition in which people go
back and forth between
periods of a very good or
irritable mood and
depression.
GENERAL INFO
Bipolar disorder affects men
and women equally, it usually
starts between ages 15 - 25. The
exact cause is unknown, but it
occurs more often in relatives of
people with bipolar disorder.
TYPES BIPOLAR DISORDER
Type 1 People with bipolar disorder type
1, have had at least one manic episode and periods
of major depression. In the past, bipolar disorder
type 1 was called manic depression.
Type 2 People with bipolar disorder type 2 have
never had full mania. Instead they experience
periods of high energy levels and impulsiveness that
are not as extreme as mania (called hypomania).
These periods alternate with episodes of depression.
TYPES OF BIPOLAR DISORDER CONTINUED…
A mild form of bipolar disorder called
cyclothymia , it involves less severe mood swings.
People with this form alternate between
hypomania (a mild mania and hyperactivity) and
mild depression. People with bipolar disorder
type 2 or cyclothymia may be wrongly diagnosed
as having depression.
MANIAC & DEPRESSION EPISODES
In most people with bipolar disorder, there is no clear
cause for the manic or depressive episodes. The following
may trigger a manic episode in people with bipolar
disorder:
Life changes Example: childbirth
Medications Example: antidepressants or steroids
Periods of sleeplessness
Recreational drug use
SYMPTOMS
Easily distracted
Very elevated mood
Little need for sleep
Poor judgment
Poor temper control
Reckless behavior and lack of self control
Binge eating, drinking, and/or drug use
Poor judgment
Spending sprees
SYMPTOMS CONTINUED…
Excess activity (hyperactivity)
Increased energy
Racing thoughts
Talking a lot
Very high self-esteem (false beliefs about self or abilities)
Very involved in activities
Very upset (agitated or irritated)
These symptoms of mania occur with bipolar disorder I. In people with
bipolar disorder II, the symptoms of mania are similar but less intense.
NOTE
NOTE: There are several other mental
disorders which may involve similar symptoms
to bipolar disorder. These include
schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), and some personality
disorders, including borderline personality.
PREVENTION
Prevention of bipolar disorder has focused on
stress, which although not a diagnostically specific
causal agent for bipolar, does place genetically and
biologically vulnerable individuals at risk for a more
harmful effect (in a gradual or subtle way) course of
illness.
There has been considerable debate regarding the
causal relationship between usage of marijuana and
bipolar disorder.
SIGNS AND TESTSMany factors are involved in diagnosing bipolar disorder. The
health care provider may do some or all of the following:
Ask about your family medical history, such as whether anyone has
or had bipolar disorder
Ask about your recent mood swings and for how long you've had
them
Perform a thorough examination to look for illnesses that may be
causing the symptoms
Run laboratory tests to check for drug levels
Take a medical history, including any medical problems you have
and any medications you take
Monitor your behavior and mood
TREATMENT
Periods of depression or mania return in most patients,
even with treatment. The main goals of treatment are:
Avoid moving from one phase to another
Avoid the need for a hospital stay
Help the patient function as well as possible between
episodes
Prevent self-injury and suicide
Make the episodes less frequent and severe
TYPES OF DRUGS USED IN TREATMENT
The following drugs, called mood stabilizers, are
usually used first:
Carbamazepine
Lamotrigine
Lithium
Valproate (valproic acid)
Other antiseizure drugs may also be tried.
COMPLICATIONS
Stopping medication or taking it the wrong way can cause your
symptoms to come back, and lead to the following complications:
Alcohol and/or drug abuse
Problems with relationships, work, and finance
Bipolar disorder can cause suicidal thoughts, that can leads to
suicidal attempts.
One out of three people with bipolar disorder report past attempts
of suicide or complete it, and the annual average suicide rate is
0.4%, which is 10 to 20 times that of the general population. The
standardized mortality ratio from suicide in bipolar disorder is
between 18 and 25.
REFERENCES
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001924/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_condition_info_details.asp?
disease_id=240&channel_id=11&relation_id=54591
http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/documents/Consumer
%20and%20Family%20Support/Bipolar%20Brochure
%20English%20FINAL%20150109.pdf