DESCRIPTION
People with bipolar disorder can rapidly change from one mood to another. They may be severly depressed at one moment and periodically change into a period known as mania. Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood changes. There are five different forms of Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic disorder in which the person experiences short bursts of depression and mania, Rapid cycling in which the sufferer has four or more episodes each year and mixed states where the sufferer experiences depression and mania at the same time. [1]
CAUSES
Bipolar disorder can be caused by many things. It can occur in times of stress or because of their family background.If the person has experienced emotional stress, they may develop bipolar disorder. Things like the loss of a loved one or neglect can add to this. Sometimes, Bipolar Disorder can be affected by the seasons.[1] There is no single cause of Bipolar Disorder, there are many different factors that contribute towards it. The disorder can be inherited and more thant two thirds of people that have it have more than one relative that has it. [2]
SYMPTOMS
Someone with bipolar disorder are most commonly depressed and this can provoke suicidal thoughts. However, they will also experience episodes of mania which is a big difference to the depression they would mainly be suffering from. When the depressed, the sufferer may feel sad, fatigued, hard to concentrate and experience difficulty in remembering things, lack of interest in activites, they may feel empty and guilty, be strongly pessimistic, self-doubting and have suicidal thoughts. When in a mania episode they may be extremely fast talking, incredibly happy, full of energy, feeling important about themselves, brimming with creativity, distracted easily, agitated, not sleeping or eating and doing things they enjoy such as spending money on things. [3]
PREVALENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY
Bipolar disorder isn't very common. One or two percent of the population is diagnosed with it. The people diagnosed are generally in their twentys or thirtys but some teenagers are also affected. [1] Both men and women of all backgrounds can get the disorder and 1 in 100 people are diagnosed with it. [3]
TREATMENT
Bipolar disorder can be treated with medication such as lithium which stabalise the person's mood. There are also talking therapies in which the sufferer will discuss what they are feeling with a therapist. The patient could also be admitted into hospital but this can make patients worse as they may rather be with their possessions and in an area that they feel familiar with. There is also ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) which involves passing an electrical current through the brain to treat mania. ECT is very uncommon now and it can cause short or long term memory loss. [1]
SOURCES
[1]- http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Undrsta...
[2]- http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinforation/mentalhealthproblems...
[3]- http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=47