Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disease or manic depression, is a mental condition characterized by extreme fluctuations in activity, focus, energy, mood, and the ability to carry out routine tasks. Bipolar disorder can present itself in three distinct ways. There are noticeable shifts in temperament, vigor, and activity levels across the board with these three kinds. Manic episodes are characterized by excessive happiness, irritability, and activity, whereas depressive episodes are characterized by intense sadness, apathy, and despair (Carvalho, Firth & Vieta, 2020). Hypomanic episodes mainly refer to less severe forms of mania.
In most cases, a diagnosis of bipolar illness is made in the early or late stages of adulthood. On rare occasions, kids might develop signs of bipolar disorder. Treatment for bipolar illness is typically ongoing throughout a person’s life, even though symptoms may change with time. Just like another mental disorder treating bipolar is essential. Adherence to a treatment plan can aid in symptom management and enhancement of quality of life.
The first type is bipolar I disorder which is evident from manic episodes that persist for at least seven days or are so severe that the person needs emergency medical treatment. Additionally, depressed episodes often occur, each lasting for at least two weeks. Depression can sometimes come in a more complex form, with mixed traits (Vieta, Berk & Schulze et al., 2018). Manic-depressive “rapid cycling” occurs when a person experiences four or more bouts of mania or Depression in a single year. The second type is bipolar II disorder, characterized by alternating periods of Depression and hypomania. The last type is cyclothymic disorder or cyclothymia, which is defined by frequent hypomanic and depressed symptoms that are not severe enough or persistent enough to be classified as hypomanic or depressive episodes.
People with bipolar disorder can recover from their illness and live normal, productive lives with the support of a professional diagnosis and treatment plan. The first step is to consult a doctor or other trained medical professional. The doctor will do a thorough physical examination and prescribe additional tests needed to rule out any potential causes. A mental health examination may be performed, or a referral made to a specialist in diagnosing and treating bipolar illness, such as a psychologist, clinical social employee, or psychiatrist. Mental health professionals often diagnose bipolar illness by looking at a patient’s symptoms in conjunction with their life narrative, experiences, and sometimes even genetics. Proper diagnosis is especially crucial in young people.
A variety of drugs can be used to control symptoms of bipolar illness. Finding the right prescription requires trial and error and discussion with a doctor. Mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics are the most commonly prescribed drugs (Phelps & Ghaemi, 2018). Lithium and valproate are mood stabilizers that can either stop or lessen the intensity of a manic or depressive episode. In addition to lowering suicide risk, lithium has other beneficial effects. Some patients using mood stabilizers may benefit from taking sleep or anxiety medications as part of their routine.
Another method used in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, usually known as “talk therapy,” may be useful in managing bipolar illness. Apart from medication and psychotherapy, there are other treatments of choice. For instance, extreme symptoms of bipolar disease may be alleviated with electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), a brain stimulation method (Vieta, Berk & Schulze et al., 2018). After trying various therapies like medicine and psychotherapy with little success or in emergencies like suicide danger or catatonia where time is of the essence, ECT may be explored.
Additionally, depression can be treated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a form of brain stimulation that employs magnetic waves rather than the electrical stimulus of ECT. TMS is not as effective as ECT, but it does not need general anesthesia and does not significantly increase the risk of memory loss or other cognitive impairments. Light therapy is the last treatment of choice that is preferred for evidence-based treatment for seasonal affective disorders.
References
Carvalho, A. F., Firth, J., & Vieta, E. (2020). Bipolar disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(1), 58-66.
Phelps, J. R., & Ghaemi, S. N. (2018). Improving the diagnosis of bipolar disorder: predictive value of screening tests. Journal of affective disorders, 92(2-3), 141-148.
Vieta, E., Berk, M., Schulze, T. G., Carvalho, A. F., Suppes, T., Calabrese, J. R., & Grande, I. (2018). Bipolar disorders. Nature reviews Disease primers, 4(1), 1-16.