Bipolar Disorder

We all go through periods of mood swings for a while, which is normal, but when this mood swing lasts for a long time and starts to affect the person and the surrounding people, then there is a problem, which could be bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder

It was called manic depressive illness or manic depression, and it’s a psychological condition that causes chronic mood disorder and extreme mood, energy, and thinking and behavior swings. Moreover, these swings could last for hours, days, weeks, or months, depending on the case.

This disorder usually manifests at the age of 25, and it could also manifest at any age, but it’s rare.

Types of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder consists of two main states, which are mania and depression, and accordingly, it’s divided into the following types:

• Bipolar I disorder: The patient here must suffer from one or more manic episodes with or without depressive episodes, although most people suffer from both. In order to diagnose this type, the manic episode must last for at least 7 days, or it must be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
• Bipolar II disorder: The patient here suffers from a hypomanic episode with a depressive episode but never suffers from the manic episode that makes it diagnosed as bipolar I disorder.
• Cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia): The patient here suffers from chronic mood swings. They go through mild depression and hypomania for at least two years, and they might also have short periods of normal mood that last for less than 8 weeks.
• Other types of bipolar disorder: When the patient doesn’t meet any criteria for the previous types of bipolar disorder but suffers from abnormal mood swings at the same time, then it’s diagnosed as unspecified bipolar disorder.

Causes and risk factors leading to bipolar disorder

The cause of bipolar disorder is unknown until now, but there are several factors that could increase its risk, and they include:

• Genetic factors, especially when there is a first-degree relative like the parents and the siblings.
• Traumas and stress.
• Heavy alcohol consumption and drug abuse.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Each type of episode has its own symptoms, and the patient might also experience mixed symptoms between mania and depression at the same time.

Mania symptoms

• Increased energy.
• Insomnia.
• Rapid speech and racing thoughts.
• Increased impulsivity and poor judgment.
• Excessive happiness and excitement.
• Sudden and severe mood change.
• Making big and unattainable plans.
• Reckless and risk-taking behavior.
• Feeling that you’re important and powerful.
• Psychosis and experiencing hallucinations and delusions.

Hypomania symptoms

The patients here experience the same symptoms as the manic episodes, but in a milder way, and they are more able to deal with social situations.

Depression symptoms

• Feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness.
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
• Overwhelming sadness.
• Fatigue and low energy.
• Loss of enjoyment.
• Lack of motivation.
• Increased or decreased sleeping.
• Change in appetite, which leads to weight loss or gain.
• Uncontrolled crying.
• Irritating.
• Suicidal thoughts.

Diagnosis of bipolar disorder

• Medical history.
• Physical examination.
• Mental health evaluation.
• Mood evaluation.
• Medical tests to exclude other conditions that might cause similar symptoms.

Management of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder management includes a combination of the following treatments:

• Psychotherapy.
• Psychological medications.
• Self-management strategies, which means that the patients must educate themselves about this condition.
• Following a healthy lifestyle and exercising regularly.
• Other treatments, such as electroconvulsive therapy, in cases where previous treatments weren’t effective enough.