Jesper Bong

What is Bipolar Disorder

 Bipolar Disorder
Background

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. It is a brain disorder that

causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-
to-day tasks.

In 1851, the French psychiatrist Jean-Pierre Falret initially publish an article describing
hi patient in what he called la folie circulaire, translated means circular insanity. Dr.
Farlets article detailed people switching from severe depression to manic excitement.
The psychiatric community considers this to be the first documented diagnosis of
bipolar disorder.

Dr. Falret also noted the genetic connection in bipolar disorder, something medical
professionals still believe to this day through genetic sequencing tools.
 Who Gets Bipolar
Disorders
Anyone can develop bipolar disorder, including teens. Patients of
bipolar disorder develop it in their late teen or early adult years.
Unfortunately, the illness usually lasts a lifetime.
We do not know the cause of bipolar disorder. There is a familial or
genetic factor because bipolar disorder can run in families. There are
genetic studies investigating families with bipolar disorder histories.
A persons brain structure can also lead to this disorder. People will
experience periods of intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and
activity levels, and unusual behaviours. This is also known as mood
episodes.
 Diagnosis

Talking with a doctor is the first step for anyone who

thinks he or she may have bipolar disorder.
The doctor will conduct a mental health evaluation or
provide a referral to a trained mental health professional,
such as a psychiatrist, who is experienced in diagnosing
and treating bipolar disorder.
 Treatment
Treatment of Bipolar disorders includes combination of medication and
psychotherapy which can be effective. It provides education and
guidance to people with the disorder.
There are different types of medications that can help and they are:
Mood stabilizers
Atypical antipsychotics
Antidepressants
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or shock therapy is a controversial
option. ECT can provide relief for people with severe bipolar disorder
who have not been able to recover with other treatments.
 Bipolar Disorders & Teens

Young people with bipolar disorder can have several

problems at the same time including substance abuse.
Both adults and teens with bipolar disorder are at risk of
drinking or taking drugs. Children who have both bipolar
disorder and Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
ADHD may have trouble staying focused.
 Prognosis

The prognosis for children and teens is good as they can

get better over time. It helps when doctors, parents, and
young people work together. Sometimes a childs bipolar
disorder changes therefore the treatment needs to change
too. For example, your child may need to try a different
medication. The doctor may also recommend other
treatment changes.
 Economic Costs of Bipolar
Disorders
There are huge economic and social costs of mental illness such as
Bipolar Disorders. Direct costs include direct medical expenditures,
hospitalization, emergency department services, psychiatric visits,
medications, and others. Indirect costs of the illness include the
affect on work productivity, as well as social welfare costs and
criminal justice costs.
The total economic cost of bipolar disorder in the United States was
$45 billion in 1991. $7 billion of that was a result of direct costs of
patient care. Indirect costs were estimated at $38 billion and
included the lost productivity of the patients and their caregivers.
 Work cited
Krans, B. (2017). The History of Bipolar Disorder. [online] Healthline. Available at:
http://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/history-bipolar#1
[Accessed 22 Jul. 2017].

NIH (2017). NIMH Bipolar Disorder. [online] Nimh.nih.gov. Available at:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml [
Accessed 22 Jul. 2017].

NIH (2017). NIMH Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens. [online] Nimh.nih.gov. Available at:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens/index.shtml
[Accessed 22 Jul. 2017].

Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M. and and Lana A. Vornik, M. (2017). Bipolar Disorder. [online] AJMC. Available at:
http://www.ajmc.com/journals/supplement/2005/2005-06-vol11-n3suppl/jun05-2074ps85-s90 [
Accessed 22 Jul. 2017].