Sunday, September 6, 2020

Bipolar Disorder

                                                                   Bipolar Disorder


    Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job, or school performance, and even suicide. More than 2 million American adults, or about one percent of the population age 18 and older in any given year, have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood.
On average, a person will receive a diagnosis around the age of 25 years, but symptoms can appear during the teenage years or later in life. It affects males and females equally. It is often not recognized as an illness, and people may suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life. The first episode may be either manic or depressive. Manic episodes, typically lasting from a few weeks to several months, are generally shorter in duration and end more abruptly than major depressive episodes. There are four types of bipolar disorders they are Bipolar I disorder: is the classic form of the illness, as well as the most severe type of bipolar disorder. It is characterized by at least one manic episode or mixed episode. Bipolar II: Mania is not involved in bipolar II disorder. Instead, the illness involves recurring episodes of major depression and hypomania, a milder form of mania. Cyclothymia: is a milder form of bipolar disorder. Like bipolar disorder, cyclothymia consists of cyclical mood swings. However, the highs and lows are not severe enough to qualify as either mania or major depression. To be diagnosed with cyclothymia, people must experience numerous periods of hypomania and mild depression over at least a two-year time span. Other specified or unspecified : Those who do not meet the diagnosis criteria for bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymic disorder but still experience significant mood swings and mood elevation will be diagnosed with Bipolar disorder “other specified” or “unspecified”.

Psychotherapy, also called “talk therapy,” can be an effective part of the treatment plan for people with bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy is a term for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. There are different types of medications can help control symptoms of bipolar disorder. Not everyone responds to medications in the same way. Mood stabilizers are the mainstay of long -term prevention and treatment for both mania and depression. They improve symptoms during acute manic, hypo manic, and mixed episodes and may also reduce symptoms of depression. Lithium was the first mood stabilizer approved by the FDA. Antidepressants may be prescribed to treat symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder. Because antidepressants can increase the risk of mania or hypo mania or of developing rapid cycling symptoms, they typically are prescribed only in combination with mood stabilizers. Other treatment is Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, interpersonal therapy. Next, is Electroconvulsive therapy is use in cases when medication and psychotherapy do not work.

References:

Bipolar disorder ,https://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-treatment.html , accessed September,09,2020

Bipolar disorder fact sheet,https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/463-bipolar-disorder-fact-sheet, accessed September,09,2020

Bipolar disorder,https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355961 , accessed September,09,2020

 


1 comment:

  1. Hello Shristi,

    I remember while at community college learning about bipolar disorder in psychology. I’ve actually been associated with people with this disorder. It happens to run in my family, not very strong but a couple members do have it. What I never knew was that there are two types with Bipolar I being the most severe. What I found interesting as well as unfortunate while reading your post was the fact that people suffer from this disorder from years before being both diagnosed and treated. Though bipolarism isn’t exactly curable it’s nice to know that there are treatments effective for achieving long-term positive outcomes. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post.

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