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Bipolar disorder - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
From high to low. From mania to depression. From recklessness to listlessness. These are the extremes associated with bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterized by mood instability that can be serious and disabling. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depression or manic-depressive illness — manic behavior is one extreme of this disorder, and depression is the other.
What are the causes of bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. However, it is thought that a complex mix of physical, environmental, and social factors are involved. Bipolar disorder seems to run in families with around 10-15% of the nearest relatives of people with the disorder, also having the condition.
New mothers with bipolar disorder have a great risk—30% to 50%—for an episode during the first month after childbirth. This means that the pregnancy must be managed properly to ensure safety for both mother and child.
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar disorder involves periods of elevated mood, or mania. Usually—but not always—the disorder also involves periods of depression. In a typical case, a person with bipolar disorder cycles between these two extremes—experiencing recurrent episodes of both elevated and depressed mood, often with symptom-free stretches in between.
Act impulsively or do reckless things, such as go on shopping sprees, drive recklessly, get into foolish business ventures, or have frequent, indiscriminate, or unsafe sex.
Have difficulty concentrating because of having too many thoughts at once (racing thoughts).
How is bipolar disorder treated?
Bipolar disorder is treated with medicines to stop the mood swings. Mood stabilizers are used to even out highs and lows in your mood. Antidepressant medicine can help reduce the symptoms of depression. Your doctor may add other medicines as you need them. These medicines don't start to work right away, but you will start to notice a difference in your moods after a few weeks. Be sure to take your medicines just as your doctor tells you.
Antidepressant drugs may be useful during the depressive phase IF the antidepressants are used with a mood stabilizer. Mood stabilizers are very important in people with bipolar disorder. Without a mood stabilizer, antidepressants may trigger mania in people with bipolar disorder. (Keep in mind that people with bipolar disorder II may be misdiagnosed with depression only because they do not experience full-fledged mania. If these patients take antidepressants without mood stabilizers, it can trigger a manic episode.)
Electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, is another option that is available for bipolar disorder treatment. ECT is usually reserved when more severe symptoms are present that are not effectively treated with medication or psychotherapy. It can also be used in situations where the risks of drug therapy are greater than the benefits the patient would get (i.e. pregnancy).
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Tags: General Health : Health / Fitness
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