Manic DepressionRikha Brown

This a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian: laura.astorian@cobbk12.org

History• Bipolar disorder was formerly called manic depression• Previously and still misdiagnosed• Schizophrenia• Borderline personality disorder• Clinical depression

What is it?• Stems from a combination of genetic and environmental

factors• Mood episodes associates with it involve clinical depression or

mania with periods of normal mood and energy in between episodes

• Patients with bipolar disorder may have disturbances in thinking

What Causes Bipolar Disorder• Like other mood disorders, cause is not known• Has genetic component and can run in families

Diagnoses• Disorder usually appears between ages of 15 and 24 and

persists throughout a lifetime• Relapses and remissions, bipolar disorder has a high rate of

recurrence if untreated.

Depression phase• During this phase people with bipolar disorder may stay in bed

all day, often feeling like they cannot get going. They may speak or think of suicide, making emergency care crucial for their safety. Just as in a manic episode psychotic symptoms may also occur during severe depressive episodes

Depressive Episode Signs• Feeling sad and

unhappy for an uninterrupted period of at least 2 weeks• Crying for no reason• Feeling worthless• Having very little

energy• Losing interest in

pleasurable activities• Loss of appetite

Mania phase• During this phase people have an elevated mood, or “high”

which includes feelings of increased self-esteem and uniqueness. They often overestimate how much they can do and the quality of their ideas. Judgement becomes impaired and patients may have little regret or concern for their actions. They have many ideas and much energy with which to carry them out.

Mania Symptoms

• Disconnected and fast thoughts• Gradiose beliefs• Inappropriate elation• Inappropriate irritability• Increased talking speed

or volume• Poor judgement• Decreased need for

sleep due to high energy

Psychotic symptoms• Sometimes a person with severe episodes of mania or

depression has psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions. This is why people with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.

Psychotic feelings• Tend to reflect persons extreme mood• Ex. during manic episode may believe they are a famous person,

have a lot of money or special powers• During depressive episode may believe they are ruined and

penniless or have committed a crime

Hypomanic Episode• Bipolar II Disorder• A less severe form of a manic episode• Not severe enough to cause serious impairment in social or

occupational functioning• No psychotic features• Similar, though less severe symptoms of mania

Mixed State phase• Bipolar disorder may also be present in a mixed state in which

people experience both mania and depression at the same time

Mixed state Feelings

• Sad• Energized• Agitates• Major changes in

appetite

Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS)• Diagnoses when symptoms of the illness exist but do not meet

diagnostic criteria for either bipolar I or II.• Symptoms clearly out of the person's normal range of

behavior

Cyclothymia• Mild form of bipolar disorder• Episodes of hypomania and mild depression for at least 2

years• Symptoms do not meet diagnostic requirements for any other

type of bipolar disorder

Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder• Severe form of the disorder• Occurs when a person has four or more episodes of major

depression, mania, hypomania, or mixed states. All within a year,

• More common in people who have first bipolar episode at a younger age

Treatments• Cannot be cured but can be treated effectively• Combination of medication and psychotherapy

Medications• Mood stabilizers• Anti psychotics• Antidepressants

Psychotherapy• Cognitive

behavioral therapy• Family focused

therapy• Psychoeducation• Social rhythm

therapy

Diet• Avoid “Western” style diets rich in red meats, saturated fats

and trans fats, and simple carbohydrates.• Linked to higher risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease

• East balance of nutrient-dense foods • Fresh fruits• Fresh vegetables• Lean meat

Self Help• Talk to your doctor about treatment options• Keep a routine regular, such as going to sleep at the same time

every night and eating meals at the same time every day• Try to get wnough sleep• Stay on your medication• Learn your warning signs for a shift into depression or mania• Expect symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately