Bipolar

Bipolar is a brain disorder that affects about 5.7 million Americans every year (2). Bipolar causes abnormal shifts in moods, energy, and activity levels.  These shifts can cause a disruption in a person’s ability to carry out daily routines. 

Bipolar was first discussed in the Nineteenth Century by Jules Baillarger and Jean-Pierre Falret who both presented their description of the disorder to the Académie de Médicine in Paris. It wasn’t until in the early 1900’s that German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin studied Bipolar and discovered that there are periods of symptom-free intervals between the manic and depressive episodes and because of this he coined the phrase Manic-Depressive Psychosis.  The terms Bipolar and Manic-Depressive Illness are both used to name the same disorder but Bipolar disorder was thought to be less stigmatizing so it is the term used today. (3)

Bipolar disorder is usually diagnosed by a doctor or mental health provider. There are four types of Bipolar that can be diagnosed: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Bipolar Not otherwise Specified, and Cyclothymic Disorder.  Bipolar I disorder is defined as manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days and depressive episodes that typically last two weeks. Bipolar II Disorder is defined as depressive episodes with hypomanic episodes but not full manic episodes.  Cyclothymic Disorder is a mild form of Bipolar disorder with hypomania and mild depression that last at least two years, yet the symptoms don’t meet requirements for the other forms of bipolar. (1)

The symptoms of bipolar are periods of mania followed by periods of depression; these are distinguished by how people act while in each respective period. During the manic phase a person may talk fast, have racing thoughts, be easily distracted, have increased activities, be overly restless, have little to no sleep, have unrealistic beliefs in their abilities, and become impulsive.  During the Depressive period a person is usually overly tired, have trouble concentrating, have trouble making decisions, be irritable, have changes in eating, sleep more, and have increased thoughts of death or suicide. (1)

With the right treatments, Bipolar can be managed over a long period of time.  The treatments for Bipolar disorder are medication management and psychotherapy; these are best used in conjunction with each other. Mood stabilizer medications are usually the first choice to treat Bipolar and can help reduce the manic and depressive episodes that are caused by Bipolar.  Psychotherapy is another form of treatment that helps a person with Bipolar learn to manage their symptoms. (1)

Bipolar effects millions of people every day but with education and the right treatments it is able to be managed so that people can live a full life

Dave Homer, LMSW

Sources

(1) Bipolar Disorder in Adults. (2012). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-adults/index.shtml#pub18

(2) Bipolar Disorder Statistics. (2015). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_statistics_bipolar_disorder

(3) Burton, N. (201, June 21). A Short History of Bipolar Disorder. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201206/short-history-bipolar-disorder