Bipolar Disorder

Description

Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depression, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day to day tasks. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can damage relationships, create poor job or school performance, and, at its worst, cause a person to commit suicide. The good news is that there is effective treatment for the illness that can vastly improve quality of life. With the appropriate care, people with bipolar disorder live full and productive lives.

Causes

There are many factors that work together that can trigger bipolar disorder. Scientists continue to study the chemistry and biology behind this complex illness. What they know is that people with bipolar disorder tend to have other relatives with the same illness. In fact, some studies show that parents with bipolar are more likely to produce children with this same mental illness. 

The brain structure of a person with bipolar disorder is also different from that of a normal brain. Specifically, the prefrontal cortex has been found to be smaller in a person afflicted with the illness. The prefrontal cortex develops during the teen years, which is why bipolar disorder typically emerges around that time.

Scientists are working to better predict and identify people with predispositions to the illness. Being able to identify bipolar disorder clearly will help sharpen treatments and make them more effective, faster.

Signs & Symptoms

Extreme mood swings, or “episodes,” are the first sign that someone you love might be suffering from bipolar disorder. These are not typical mood swings, but pronounced, dramatic episodes that are hard to miss. There are three types of episodes – manic, depressive and mixed.

Manic Episodes

The mood changes during a manic episode include long periods of feeling “high” and overly happy along with being extremely irritable. A person’s behavior can also change. Racing thoughts will lead to fast talking for someone suffering from a manic state. These people are also easily distracted, overly restless, and not sleeping well. They tend to take on new and lofty projects, and participate in impulsive and high risk behavior.

Depressive Episodes

When someone with bipolar is in a depressive state they can experience long periods of hopelessness and sadness. In addition, they will show little to no interest in activities they used to enjoy.

Behavioral changes during depressive episodes include feeling tired, restless and irritable. There are often problems recalling information. You might also notice that this person has changed his eating and sleeping habits. Suicidal thoughts are also present during these episodes.

Hypomanic

Some people with bipolar disorder have less extreme mood swings. These are still noticeable to their loved ones but they are not nearly as severe as the manic and depressive states talked about above. These still need to be caught early and treated. Left untreated, this hypomanic state can lead to severe mania or depression.

Psychotic Symptoms

Some patients who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder have hallucinations and delusions. They are typically diagnosed with schizophrenia as well.