The news earlier this week that actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has struggled with bipolar disorder has

cast a light on this challenging psychiatric condition. Ms Zeta-Jones was said to have been treated for bipolar disorder following the stress caused by the battle against throat cancer by her husband Michael Douglas. She is understood to have briefly checked into a facility to receive treatment for bipolar II disorder.

What is bipolar disorder, and how is it treated?

Bipolar disorder used to be known as manic depression, and is characterised by extreme mood swings, which can last for weeks or months. The feelings can be of intense depression or despair, or of great happiness and elation. They can also be mixed, with the sufferer being depressed but at the same time restless and overactive. Ms Zeta-Jones experienced bipolar II disorder, which is characterised by more than one episode of severe depression, but usually milder manic behaviour, known as hypomania. People with bipolar II disorder can be misdiagnosed by their doctor who may initially treat them for depression alone. Although the causes of bipolar disorder are not well understood, research suggests that it may, in part, be genetic. It may also be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that help control mood. Stressful events can trigger symptoms, which may have been the case with Ms ZetaJones. If the bipolar episode of either mania or depression is very intense, the sufferer may develop psychotic symptoms, such as grandiose beliefs about themselves, or a feeling that they don't exist, as well as hallucinations. Generally, when a bipolar episode occurs, medication is used to treat the person and stabilise their mood. Several types of medications are used to treat bipolar episodes, depending on the way the patient reacts to the drugs. The most common medication used as a mood stabiliser is lithium, though how exactly it works is still not clear. It is used to treat both manic and depressive patients. Lithium is prescribed by a psychiatrist and needs to be carefully calibrated so it can be effective. The patient is closely monitored and it can take several months for the Lithium to work properly.

There are several other medications used to treat bipolar episodes, and these are prescribed depending on the patient's circumstances, the nature of the condition and the length of treatment. Talking therapies may also be of help. People can also be taught to recognise the triggers and warning signs of the condition, and what to do when these occur.