Much attention has been focused on bipolar disorder, and misunderstanding abounds. Bipolar disorder is a serious brain disorder that can create havoc in the life of the person who has it and stress in the lives of those around him or her. Periods of moodiness, anger and sadness affect everyone; this is not bipolar disorder. The difference is that the person with bipolar disorder has no control over his moods or mood changes, and they are not necessarily the result of an external trigger.
What are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, manifests itself in two distinct emotional states: mania and depression. People suffering from it may appear happy and exuberant at one time and deeply depressed at another. Extreme mood swings are the hallmark of the illness. Neither the buoyant good feelings nor the sad ones necessarily relate to things happening in the person’s life; rather, they are the result of chemical imbalances in the brain over which he or she has no control.
Manic episodes do not always produce feelings of euphoria. Generalized anger and irritability are common. Racing thoughts, rapid speech, restlessness, increased activity and grandiosity frequently accompany either euphoric or angry behavior. Impulsiveness, such as spending too much money or deliberately taking risks, is often a feature of the manic phase.
A person who suffers from bipolar disorder may not want to do anything other than sleep when he or she is in the throes of an episode of depression. Hygiene usually suffers dramatically, and eating may be affected adversely. Individuals may refuse food or eat constantly. Episodes of depression can be so painful for the affected individual that he or she contemplates suicide. During these periods, hospitalization may become necessary.
Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder
There is no simple test to diagnose bipolar disorder; however, a doctor can rule out other illnesses, such as stroke or brain tumors, that can cause these types of behaviors. If the cause of the problem remains undetermined after a thorough physical examination, the doctor may conduct a mental health evaluation or refer the patient to a psychiatrist who is trained to diagnose and treat bipolar disorder.
In order to differentiate bipolarity from unipolar depression, observations from friends and family must be taken into consideration in constructing a patient history. People with unipolar depression do not experience mania.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
No cure currently exists for bipolar disorder, but new treatment options are available and research continues. Most symptoms can be managed or improved by medication and psychotherapy. Response to psychotropic drugs, like response to any other medication, varies from patient to patient. It may take experimenting with a number of different medicines, alone or in combination, to find what works best for a patient.
Mood stabilizing drugs such as lithium (Eskalith or Lithobid) or valproic acid (Depakote) are usually the first choice for treatment. Newer, atypical antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel) and risperidone (Risperdal) are useful for controlling symptoms. Each drug has pros and cons that only a qualified mental health professional can assess. There are side effects to each, and these side effects must be balanced against the benefits of the drug for the patient. Information that is more detailed is available at the website of the Federal Drug Administration. (See Resources.)
Antidepressants may be prescribed to treat the symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder; however, they are generally not prescribed alone. Doctors usually require that a mood stabilizer be taken along with the antidepressant because taking antidepressants alone can increase the risk of a person’s shifting from depression to mania.
Prognosis
With proper treatment and support, people with bipolar disorder can lead successful lives. Among the famous people who do are Jim Carey, Carrie Fisher, Margot Kidder, Robin Williams and Tracy Ullman. There are many others in less public professions who have learned to manage their illness and their lives.
The most important facts to remember are that bipolar disorder is a lifetime illness and that it will not get better on its own.
References and Resources:
- "Bipolar Disorder"; National Institute of Mental Health; 31 Aug 2010.
- "Mental Illnesses: Bipolar Disorder"; National Alliance on Mental Illness; Ken Duckworth MD; October 2006.
- "Bipolar Disorder"; National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health; 2011.
- "Bipolar Disorder"; FamilyDoctor.org; November 2010.
- Bipolar Disorder Health Center; WebMD; 25 Feb 2010.
Margo Steele - Margo Steele has many interests and writes about all of them - at one time or another.
