Bipolar Mood Disorder
Statistically, the lifetime risk of developing a bipolar disorder ranges
approximately from 0.4% to 1.6%. However, there is a very high genetic
link and as such, 9% of first-degree relatives of a diagnosed bipolar patient
are likely to be bipolar. This means that genetically linked family
members have nine times the likelihood of being diagnosed with a bipolar
disorder as compared to the normal population.
Diagnosis:
A person with bipolar mood disorder experiences both manic and depressive
episodes. A manic episode can be recognized by unrealistic,
yet extremely intense, feelings usually of elation and euphoria, coinciding
with outbursts of extreme emotion. To diagnose a manic episode, it
must last for more than one week, and display three or more of the following
behaviors: a flight of ideas and increased creativity, distractibility, inflated
self-esteem sometimes to the point of delusions of personal grandeur, decreased
need for sleep, high levels of verbal output, and a loosening of inhibitions
sometimes leading to indulgence I foolish ventures which have a high potential
for painful consequences. Manic episodes can create significant impairment
in social and occupational functioning. A depressive episode is
marked by feelings of acute sorrow, sadness and misery, and thoughts of
death. Commonly, there is a distinct loss in pleasure in activities
normally found interesting, a disruption in sleeping, eating, and sexual
patterns, low energy levels, decrease in productivity, talkativeness, efficiency
and cognitive sharpness. Also, tearfulness and a pessimistic and brooding
attitude are experienced.
-
Cyclothymia Disorder, depressed, (mild to moderate impairment)
is characterized by episodes resembling dysthymia, in which a depressed
mood is experienced for more days than not, in the past two years.
Also have had one or more episodes of hypomania. Hypomania is
less extreme than a manic episode, but is still characterized by an elevated,
expansive or irritable mood in which the person is unable to maintain a true
understanding of reality or calm in a normal allotted time frame.
-
Bipolar I Disorder, depressed, (moderate to severe impairment) is
diagnosed according to the occurrence of one or more manic periods
concurrently appearing with one or more major depressive episodes.
Symptoms of a major depressive episode include a loss in pleasure
of formerly enjoyable activities, prominent and persistent depressed mood,
feelings of worthlessness and/or guilt, decrease in appetite, insomnia, fatigue,
psychomotor retardation (slowness of physical, mental, and emotional
functioning), inability to concentrate, and thoughts of suicide and death.
-
Bipolar II Disorder, depressed, (moderate to severe impairment) is
experienced as one or more major depressive episodes are offset by
one or more hypomanic periods.
Treatment:
Antidepressants, antianxiety and antipsychotics are all effectively used
in the treatment of bipolar illness. The standard antidepressant used
to treat moderate to severe depressive episodes, is a family of drugs known
as tricyclics. As with most drugs, there are numerous side effects
about which you should ask your prescribing doctor. Also, antidepressants
can sometimes cause a faster rate of reoccurrence of manic episodes, so it
is very important to address this concern with your prescribing doctor also.
Other common treatments are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
such as Prozac, and mood-stabilizing drugs such as lithium. In extremely
depressed patients, ECT or electroconvulsive shock therapy is sometimes used,
but it is stressed that this treatment is only used when no other form of
therapy has worked.
Chemical drugs used to treat a bipolar illness should always be combined
with individual or group psychotherapy. If the signs of a bipolar illness
are discovered and the symptoms are addressed in the early phases of development
of the disorder, psychotherapy, including behavioral and cognitive, is often
enough of a treatment to minimize the effects of the disorder, without the
use of medication. The key is prevention and early intervention
In Closing:
Although it is commonly known that stressful life events can trigger the
occurrence of manic or depressive episodes, in two thirds of all bipolar
cases, a manic episode immediately precedes or follows a depressive
episode. In one third of cases, manic and depressive episodes are separated
by intervals of relatively normal functioning. Typically, bipolar disorders
are recurrent disorders. A single manic or depressive episode is very
rare. If untreated, historical evidence suggests that with each cycle
of the extreme high and low of bipolar disorders, the episodes will last
longer and be of greater intensity than the last. Once again it is
stressed that prevention and early intervention is the most effective treatment
of bipolar illness.
Bibliography
Butcher, James, Carson, Robert, and Mineka, Susan. (2002) Abnormal Psychology
and Modern Life (11th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon, pp.
219-255.
Recommended Site:
Depression and Bipolar Support
Alliance |
