By Emily Guy

Definition:

Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar

affective disorder, manic-depressive

disorder, or manic depression, is a mental

illness classified by psychiatry as a mood

disorder

What is Bipolar?

• Bipolar disorder causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior. More than just a normal good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder can last for days, weeks, or months.

• The mood swings of bipolar disorder are so severe that they interfere with your ability to function.

Symptoms

• The specific symptoms may vary, but most common symptoms include unpredictable and dramatic mood swings

• There are depression symptoms as well as the manic symptoms

Depression

• Depression symptoms include sadness, uncontrollable crying, irritability, anxiety, loss of energy, weight loss or gain, increased need for sleep, difficulty making decisions, and thoughts of death or suicide

Manic

• Manic symptoms include excessive happiness, excitement, increased energy, irritability, restlessness, less need for sleep, racing thoughts, high sex drive, and a tendency to make unattainable and grand plans

Types of Bipolar

• Bipolar I: the most severe form, one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes and one or more major depressive episodes, the classic manic-depressive disorder

• Bipolar II: similar to Bipolar I, but the “highs” are less manic (hypomanic). In between the hypomanic and depressive episodes these people can live fairly normal lives

• Cyclothymia: very mild and brief symptoms, a person can with this can easily live a normal life

• Mixed Bipolar: manic and depressive symptoms at the same time

• Rapid Cycling Bipolar: the symptoms cycle very quickly, four or more episodes in a year

Causes

• The exact cause is unknown, there is more than one factor

1. Genetics

2. Neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain

3. Environmental factors, such as a life event

• Substance abuse, certain medications, hormonal problems may also trigger or worsen an episode, although it isn’t the full cause

Effects

• Besides your moods, bipolar affects your energy level, judgment, memory, concentration, appetite, sleep patterns, sex drive, and self-esteem

• Living with bipolar is hard but most people can live normal lives by managing their symptoms

Risk Factors

• Family history (10%-25% chance if one parent has it, 10%-50% if both parents have it)

• Medications such as corticosteroids and cancer medicines

• Other medical and neurological problems

• Most common around age 25

Diagnosis

• At least one manic episode per year along with depression

• Psychological evaluation done by a psychiatrist

• Mood and sleep pattern charting

• Physical examination

• You must meet the criteria set by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

• Those criteria vary on the type of bipolar

• Criteria includes the symptoms and amount of time they were experienced

Treatment

• Medications such as Lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics (like quetiapine), antidepressants, symbyax, benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications)

• Hospitalization

• Substance abuse treatment

• Psychotherapy

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation

• Electroconvulsion therapy (ECT)

Prevention

• Bipolar itself cannot be prevented, but you can prevent having symptoms through treatment

Statistics

• About 2.6% of adult Americans have bipolar

• 5.7 million adult Americans

• In percentages, America has more people with bipolar than any other country

• It equally affects everyone, gender and race do not matter

Famous People

• Charles Dickens

• Carrie Fisher

• Abraham Lincoln

• Demi Lovato

• Isaac Newton

• Jack Nicholson

• Jim Carrey

• Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean)

• Robert Pattinson

• Madonna

• Buzz Aldrin