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