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