Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness or behavioural disorder which is characterized by periods of mood swings (depressed to elevated mood) that last from days to weeks.

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According to a survey, globally bipolar disorder is the 6th leading cause of disability. Alone 6.4% of the United States population suffering from it.

It can occur at any stage of life but it is most commonly diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood.

The main cause of it is still unknown. But there are various factors (mainly genetic and environmental) that cause this disorder. Like prolonged stress, family history, childhood abuse, substance abuse, sudden trauma due to your loved ones.

Generally, people suffered from two stages of mental disturbance one is a depressed stage or a low mood level( feeling low and want to be alone) and the next one is an elevated mood( feeling energetic).

If the elevated mood condition is severe, psychosis-like which leads to self-harm or even death, it is called mania and if the condition is less severe, it is called hypomania.

Note that both mood swings condition deviates from your normal behaviour.

If this condition is less severe, it is known as hypomania.

Symptoms of elevated mood-

Less sleepy night.

Irritability results in anxiety or violence.

Energy enhancement.

Unusual behaviour and action.

Increased creativity, talkativeness and confidence.

Unrealistic sense of superiority.

Feeling of euphoria, distractibility, hypersexuality.

Engaging with negative pleasurable activities.

If the above-mentioned symptoms are present for more than a week then this condition leads to mania.

Symptoms of Depressed mood-

The feeling of sadness, hopelessness and tearfulness

Irritability or anger.

Inappropriate and excessive

Lethargic behaviour (feel sleepy, fatigue and sluggish).

Lowering of concentration and interest.

Severe symptoms happened in both cases-

Delusion or hallucination.

Feeling of danger, panic or death.

Self-harmed.

Thinking and planning of death (suicidal attempts).

Reduce attentional and executive capabilities.

Impaired memory.

When the symptoms of both mania and depression occur simultaneously; it is called a mixed state or mixed bipolar episode.

Types of Bipolar disorder:

Bipolar I disorder- at least one manic episode with or without a depressive episode.

Bipolar II disorder- at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode.

Cyclothymic disorder- hypomanic episodes with periods of depression.

Other medical conditions which are commonly present in people having bipolar disorder are:

Anxiety.

Personality Disorder.

Metabolic syndrome.

Migraine.

Headaches.

Obesity.

Type 2 diabetes.

Diagnosis-

Based on self-evaluation.

Abnormal behaviour is noticed and reported by family or near ones.

Bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale.

Mood disorder questionnaire.

General behaviour inventory.

Hypomania checklist.

By ICD -10 criteria.

Rapid cycling episodes, lasting three to six months.

Treatment-

Can be done by a combination of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques.

Psychosocial treatment-

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Family-focused therapy

Psychoeducation

Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy

Medication treatment-

Mood stabilizers (lithium and anticonvulsants).

Antipsychotics (olanzapine, haloperidol, etc.).

Antidepressants (not recommended to use alone).

Atypical antipsychotic (aripiprazole).

Other drugs (benzodiazepines).

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).