home
contents
psychcorner       
family matters
wellness  
this & that
diet & nutrition 
heal the world
spirituality
library
links
about us

 

submit articles  
to CrescentLife

ask the expert

Bipolar Disorder 

Bipolar Disorders are characterized by two extremes of moods.. elation and depression.  The clinical picture of depressed mood is the same as seen in Major Depression, so the distinguishing factor is the Manic features.  

Elation encompasses a wide range of moods, from normal joy to pathological mania.  Mania is characterized by extreme elation, hyperactivity, agitation, accelerated speech and disordered thinking.  Mania also has features of extreme irritability, paranoia and rage.


Manic Symptoms:

  • Persistent elevated, expansive or irritable mood
  • Distress
  • Impaired normal functioning
  • Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • Pressurized speech
  • Racing thoughts, flight of ideas
  • Distractibility
  • Increased activity
  • Impaired judgment
  • Lability of mood
  • Delusions and hallucinations
  • Self-destructive behaviors
  • Bizarre behaviors

Depressive Symptoms:

  • Insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Low energy level
  • Feelings of inadequacy
  • Decreased effectiveness
  • Decreased concentration
  • Decreased attention span
  • Social withdrawal
  • Loss of interest in everyday activity
  • Decreased libido
  • Pessimistic
  • Tearfulness
  • Self-destructive behavior

Adapted from:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  Vol. IV  American Psychiatric        Association.  1994

          

More about Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar affective disorder, also called manic depression, is a devastating illness marked by alternating periods of euphoria and depression. Instead of feeling in charge of their moods, people with bipolar disorder feel victimized by them.

This widely misunderstood condition's stereotype focuses on major mood swings, ranging from deep depression to extremely energetic and unrealistic, "crazy" behavior. Wild mood swings that a person cannot control may happen (and could lead to hospitalization), but bipolar disorder is often much more subtle. Everyone has mood swings, so it's often difficult to distinguish between people who are simply "moody" and those who are truly bipolar.

Bipolar disorder usually begins with a period of depression, typically lasting three to six months. The manic phase that follows is usually shorter -- several days to months. In the first few days of a manic episode, the person not only feels wonderful but often attracts others because of his or her enthusiastic mood and expansive behavior. If the mood escalates, however, its inappropriateness becomes apparent and the person's actions become more erratic and destructive, possibly alienating even close friends and family.

Synonyms
  • Manic Depression
  • Bipolar Affective Disorder, Type I
  • Bipolar Affective Disorder, Type II
  • Mania
  • Mood Disorder
  • Cyclothymic Disorder
A manic episode of bipolar affective disorder is marked by hyperactivity paired with extreme euphoria, out of proportion to any event worth celebrating. While the person exhibits extreme, even self-destructive behavior, he or she feels better than ever and may have no sense that his or her behavior is inappropriate. Those in the throes of a manic episode will typically talk excessively, stay up all night, and have bursts of energy, though they accomplish little because they cannot focus on any task for long. They have racing thoughts and grandiose delusions, frequently using poor judgment. In the throes of mania, patients may spend a great deal of money, become sexually reckless, and break laws.

As mania progresses, patients become increasingly irritable, hostile, angry, and even delusional. The last stage of a manic episode is also the most destructive. Patients are filled with panic and terror. Sleep is impossible. Physical activities dissolve to a state of frenzy, and hallucinations may occur. Not all manic-depressives reach this final stage.

The "down" phase of bipolar affective disorder can have all the features of major depression, such as "blue" mood, disturbed sleep, lack of pleasure and interest in activities, disturbed appetite, weight change, and trouble concentrating.

There are four types of bipolar affective disorder:
  • Bipolar Affective Disorder, Type I consists of alternating episodes of major depression and full-blown psychotic mania in which the person is incapacitated by physical frenzy and hallucinations
  • Bipolar Affective Disorder, Type II is marked by alternating episodes of depression and hypomania (a milder form of mania in which the person has an inappropriately elevated mood, but whose behavior doesn't impair his or her ability to work or have relationships)
  • Bipolar Affective Disorder, not otherwise specified consists of major depressions and episodes that almost but don't quite reach criteria for hypomania
  • Cyclothymic Disorder is characterized by hypomania and mild depression alternating together over the course of a few days
How Common Is Bipolar Affective Disorder?

Nearly 2% of the U.S. population has the disorder -- more than 5.4 million people. It usually emerges during the teens, 20s, and 30s; however, it can arise at any age. Men and women are equally affected, on average at age 30.

              

References and Links

the above information is provided by PlanetRx
        http://www.planetrx.com
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  Vol. IV  
        American Psychiatric Association.  1994

back to psychdisorders