« Menopause | Main | Skin care and cosmetic products »
Bipolar disorder – symptoms and treatment
By admin | November 3, 2007
Bipolar disorder causes unusual changes in person’s mood, energy level and ability to function every day. It is also known as manic-depressive illness.
This disorder cannot be confused with normal ups and downs that every person has. People suffering from bipolar have symptoms much more severe than just regular anxiety and sadness. These symptoms can result in damaged social and love relationships, poor career, bad school or college grades and even suicide. But, it is very important to state that this condition can be treated, and people with this disorder can have productive, happy and healthy life.
Some symptoms of mania or mania episode include:
1. increased energy level and activity
2. extreme irritability
3. little sleep needed
4. poor judgement
5. increased sexual drive
6. abuse of drugs, especially cocaine and alchocol
7. denial that anything the person did is wrong
8. aggressive behavior
9. euphoric behavior
10. talking very fast and jumping from one topic to another
Some of the symptoms of depression include:
1. sleeping too much or being unable to fall asleep
2. change in appetite ( either eating less or more )
3. lasting sad, anxious mood
4. feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
5. loss of interest in thing that used to bring pleasure
6. decreased energy
7. cronic pain
8. restlessness or irritability
9. difficulty concentrating or remembering things
10. thoughts of death or suicide
Episodes of mania and depression typically recur across the life span. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people have some residual symptoms. A small percentage of people experience chronic unremitting symptoms despite treatment.
The classic form of the illness, which involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression, is called bipolar I disorder. Some people, however, never develop severe mania but instead experience milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression; this form of the illness is called bipolar II disorder. When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, a person is said to have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
Both children and adolescents can develop bipolar disorder. It is more likely to affect the children of parents who have the illness.
Unlike many adults with bipolar disorder, whose episodes tend to be more clearly defined, children and young adolescents with the illness often experience very fast mood swings between depression and mania many times within a day.
Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents can be hard to tell apart from other problems that may occur in these age groups. For example, while irritability and aggressiveness can indicate bipolar disorder, they also can be symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or other types of mental disorders more common among adults such as major depression or schizophrenia. Drug abuse also may lead to such symptoms.
Scientists are learning about the possible causes of bipolar disorder through several kinds of studies. Most scientists agree that there is no single cause for polar disorder, but many factors that act together and produce the ilness.
In most cases, bipolar disorder is much better controlled if treatment is continuous than if it is on and off. But even when there are no breaks in treatment, mood changes can occur and should be reported immediately to your doctor. The doctor may be able to prevent a full-blown episode by making adjustments to the treatment plan. By talking to your doctor you can severly help in treating this condition.
Medications known as “mood stabilizers” usually are prescribed to help control bipolar disorder. Some of them are:
1. Anticonvulsant medications, such as valproate (Depakote®) or carbamazepine (Tegretol®), also can have mood-stabilizing effects and may be especially useful for difficult-to-treat bipolar episodes. Valproate was FDA-approved in 1995 for treatment of mania.
2. Lithium, the first mood-stabilizing medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of mania, is often very effective in controlling mania and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes.
3. Anticonvulsant medications may be combined with lithium, or with each other, for maximum effect.
4. Women with bipolar disorder who wish to conceive, or who become pregnant, face special challenges due to the possible harmful effects of existing mood stabilizing medications on the developing fetus and the nursing infant. New treatments with reduced risks during pregnancy and lactation are under study.
Topics: Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Women's Health | No Comments »
