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Bipolar Disorder
What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe shifts in a person’s mood and energy, which make it difficult for the person to function. More than 5.7 million American adults or 2.6 percent of the population age 18 or older in any given year have bipolar disorder. The condition typically starts in late adolescence or early adulthood, although it can show up in children and in older adults. People often live with the disease without having it properly diagnosed and treated. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder causes repeated mood swings, or episodes, that can make someone feel very high (mania) or very low (depressive). The cyclic episodes are punctuated by normal moods. Mania Episode Signs and Symptoms (lasts usually for a week)
Depressive Episode Signs (last usually for two weeks)
More on symptoms Sometimes individuals don’t have a full-fledged mania and instead have what is called hypomania. Hypomania can become full mania and can also switch into depression. Severe episodes of mania can include psychoses, such as hallucinations or delusions. In certain cases, people can have both mania and depression, experiencing a sad, hopeless mood and yet being highly energized. Recurrent episodes of mania and depression is deemed bipolar I disorder. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by hypomania that alternates with depression. When four or more episodes occur within a year, the person is said to have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Treatment of Bipolar Disorder People with bipolar disorder can live healthy lives if treated with drugs prescribed by psychiatrists and psychosocial therapies. Patients need to work closely with doctors to keep track of their illness and monitor treatment effectiveness. Medications known as mood stabilizers help control the condition, and are taken for extended periods of time; other drugs are added to treat mania or depressive episodes that occur despite the mood stabilizer.
Psychosocial treatments include
» NARSAD's Role in Bipolar Disorder Research
NARSAD funds studies into many aspects of bipolar disorder and its subtypes. To read about NARSAD-funded bipolar disorder projects click here. » Featured Stories
Study Links Trauma From Assaults to Bipolar Disorder Primary-care patients with bipolar disorder are likely to have seen or experienced an assault, according to research by NARSAD-affiliated scientists. Their study also found that individuals whose bipolar disorder is accompanied by post-traumatic stress disorder carry an extra-heavy burden of illness. (more) |
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