BIPOLAR DISORDER

What is Bipolar Disorder?

• “
• It is a brain disorder which causes unusual
shifts within a person's energy, mood, and
ability to function.
• Also known as manic-depressive illness.
• People having such disorder might spend
weeks feeling like they are on the top of the
world before plunging in a deep depression”
 Causes
• “Doctors don’t know exactly what causes bipolar
disorder. Current theories hold that the disorder
may result from a combination of genetic and
other biological -- as well as environmental --
factors. Scientists think that brain circuits involved
in the regulation of mood, energy, thinking, and
biological rhythms may function abnormally in
people with bipolar disorder resulting in the mood
and other changes associated with the illness”
 Who is at risk?

• “
• It usually develops in late teens or early adult
years. Around half of the cases nearly start
before age 25.
• Some people face such symptoms in their
childhood, while other develop them lately”
 Symptoms (Manic Episode)
• “
• It is a period of at least one week when a person is extremely
high-spirited or irritable most of the day for most days,
possesses more energy than usual, and experiences following
behaviors
Faster speech
Less need for sleep
Increased activity
Feeling jumpy
Irritable mood-agitation”
 Symptoms (Depressive Episode)
• “
• It is a period of at least two weeks in which a person
has following symptoms
Intense sadness
Fatigue
Restlessness
Feeling of guilt
Loss of interest
Suicidal thoughts
Difficulty in concentrating”
 Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II
• “People with bipolar I disorder have manic phases
for at least a week. Many also have separate
depression phases, too.
• Those with bipolar ll have bouts of major
depression, but instead of full manic episodes, they
have low-grade hypomanic swings that are less
intense and may  last less than a week. They may
seem fine, even like the “life of the party,” though
family and friends notice their mood changes”
 Treatment
• Medication
• Mood stabilizing
• The first choice to treat this disorder
• Depakote and Lithium
• Antidepressant medications
– Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft
• Atypical antipsychotic
 Treatment
• Psychotherapy
• It can also be an effective treatment as it
provides support, education as well as
guidance to people having bipolar disorders.
• It involves
Family-focused therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Psychoeducation
 Treatment
• Electroconvulsive therapy
• For the cases, in which patients have no effect
from medication and psychotherapy, ECT is
used as an alternative
 Recommendations
• After getting to know about all the treatment
alternatives, I personally recommend to treat
this disorder by combination of medication
and psychotherapy. It has also been found that
"when medication is supplemented with
various forms of psychotherapy, the rate of
recurrence in 12 months declines, and
symptoms are better managed".
 Conclusion
• Casarella, J. (2021, April 21). Treatments for Bipolar Disorder.
WebMD.
• Mayo Clinic. (2021, February 16). Bipolar disorder. Mayo
Clinic; Mayo Clinic.
• National Institute of Mental Health. (2020, January). Bipolar
disorder. National Institute of Mental Health; National
Institute of Mental Health.
• Parekh, R. (2017). What Are Bipolar Disorders? Psychiatry.org;
American Psychiatric Association.
• Psychotherapy in Addition to Medication Helps Bipolar
Disorder Patients Avoid Relapse and Manage Their Symptoms,
Study Determines. (2020, November 19). Brain & Behavior
Research Foundation.