· what are the symptoms of bipolar disorder? what treatment option interests you the most? why?

What is bipolar disorder and how is it treated?

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe.

What questions does a doctor ask to diagnose bipolar disorder?

People with bipolar disorder have an increased chance of having thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses. Psychosis: Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression may experience psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions.

What are the main features of bipolar disorder?

Jan 11, 2022 · A person with bipolar disorder may experience periods with an extremely elevated or irritable mood (called manic episodes, or mania) as well as episodes of depression. These shifts are more severe...

How do you deal with a bipolar disorder flare up?

Dec 11, 2014 · Symptoms. Bipolar disorder is a recurring disease that goes in cycles. One part of the cycle is marked by symptoms of mania, the other by symptoms of depression. These "mood episodes" are often intense. During the manic phase, an individual can be cheerful, outgoing, talkative, and energetic.

Which is the best known treatment option for bipolar disorder?

What is the best form of treatment for bipolar disorder Why?

What are two treatment options for bipolar disorder?

What are three treatment options used to cope or manage bipolar disorder?

How do antipsychotics help bipolar?

How are medications used to treat bipolar disorder?

Can a psychologist treat bipolar?

Can bipolar be managed with medication?

How to manage bipolar disorder?

Stay focused on your goals. Learning to manage bipolar disorder can take time. Stay motivated by keeping your goals in mind and reminding yourself that you can work to repair damaged relationships and other problems caused by your mood swings. Join a support group.

How to help someone with bipolar disorder?

People with bipolar disorder may benefit from establishing a daily routine for sleep, diet and exercise. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The focus is identifying unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replacing them with healthy, positive ones. CBT can help identify what triggers your bipolar episodes.

What is the best way to learn about bipolar disorder?

Psychoeducation. Learning about bipolar disorder (psychoeducation) can help you and your loved ones understand the condition. Knowing what's going on can help you get the best support, identify issues, make a plan to prevent relapse and stick with treatment.

What is bipolar therapy?

Psychotherapy is a vital part of bipolar disorder treatment and can be provided in individual, family or group settings. Several types of therapy may be helpful. These include: Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT). IPSRT focuses on the stabilization of daily rhythms, such as sleeping, waking and mealtimes.

What is IPSRT in psychology?

IPSRT focuses on the stabilization of daily rhythms, such as sleeping, waking and mealtimes. A consistent routine allows for better mood management. People with bipolar disorder may benefit from establishing a daily routine for sleep, diet and exercise. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

What is the DSM-5?

Your psychiatrist may compare your symptoms with the criteria for bipolar and related disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Can you take birth control with bipolar?

A number of medications for bipolar disorder can be associated with birth defects and can pass through breast milk to your baby. Certain medications, such as valproic acid and divalproex sodium, should not be used during pregnancy. Also, birth control medications may lose effectiveness when taken along with certain bipolar disorder medications.

How to help someone with bipolar disorder?

Proper diagnosis and treatment can help people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and active lives. Talking with a doctor or other licensed health care provider is the first step. The health care provider can complete a physical exam and order necessary medical tests to rule out other conditions. The health care provider may then conduct a mental health evaluation or provide a referral to a trained mental health care provider, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker who has experience in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder.

Why is it important to take a medical history of bipolar disorder?

Taking a careful medical history is essential to ensure that bipolar disorder is not mistaken for major depression. This is especially important when treating an initial episode of depression as antidepressant medications can trigger a manic episode in people who have an increased chance of having bipolar disorder.

How does electroconvulsive therapy work?

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): ECT is a brain stimulation procedure that can help people get relief from severe symptoms of bipolar disorder. With modern ECT, a person usually goes through a series of treatment sessions over several weeks. ECT is delivered under general anesthesia and is safe. It can be effective in treating severe depressive and manic episodes, which occur most often when medication and psychotherapy are not effective or are not safe for a particular patient. ECT can also be effective when a rapid response is needed, as in the case of suicide risk or catatonia (a state of unresponsiveness).

What is the best medication for bipolar disorder?

Medications generally used to treat bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers and second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotics. Treatment plans may also include medications that target sleep or anxiety. Health care providers often prescribe antidepressant medication to treat depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, combining the antidepressant with a mood stabilizer to prevent triggering a manic episode.

How long does a manic period last?

Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes. Bipolar I Disorder— defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks.

What is bipolar 2?

Bipolar II Disorder— defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes that are typical of Bipolar I Disorder.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

Signs and Symptoms. People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and uncharacteristic behaviors —often without recognizing their likely harmful or undesirable effects. These distinct periods are called “mood episodes.”.

What is bipolar disorder?

Pinterest. Copy Link. Medically Reviewed. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme shifts in a person's mood and energy level. A person with bipolar disorder may experience periods of an extremely elevated or irritable mood (called manic episodes, or mania) as well as episodes of depression.

How many types of bipolar are there?

There are four types. Bipolar I, considered the most severe, involves at least one manic episode. Bipolar II is characterized by at least one major depressive episode and one episode of hypomania. Cyclothymia is a milder form, and in a fourth "unspecified" type, a person has abnormal mood elevations but doesn't fit criteria of a certain type.

What is the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance?

The mission of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is to educate, support, and help people living with a mood disorder and the people closest to them. This community-like website offers in-person and online support groups, as well as videos, programs, and even a “Wellness Toolbox” for family and friends.

What is a manic episode?

Episodes are defined as symptoms that affect a person every day for at least a week. The manic episodes that people with bipolar I experience are often extreme.

How many people have bipolar disorder?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 2.8 percent of U.S. adults have had bipolar disorder in the last year. ( 14) According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the average age of onset is 25, though it can occur in teenagers and, less commonly, in children.

When did bipolar disorder change to manic depression?

Manic depression was the original name for the disorder, but mental health professionals changed the name to bipolar disorder in the 1980s to better reflect the symptoms of the condition. Bipolar disorder is now the preferred term and the one officially used in diagnosis.

When did bipolar disorder become manic?

In fact, bipolar disorder was officially known as manic depression until the 1980s, when mental health professionals decided to change the name of the illness in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) — the guide that mental health professionals use to assist in diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

One part of the cycle is marked by symptoms of mania, the other by symptoms of depression. These "mood episodes" are often intense. During the manic phase, an individual can be cheerful, outgoing, talkative, and energetic.

How long does bipolar last?

Some people have bipolar disorder for months, if not years, before it is diagnosed. Untreated, the manic phase can last as long as 3 months. As the mania fades, the individual may have a period of normal mood and behavior that lasts for weeks, or even years. Eventually, the depressive phase of the illness sets in.

What are the best antipsychotics for bipolar?

Second-generation antipsychotics, also called atypical antipsychotics, can also be used to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Examples of these medications include: 1 risperidone (Risperdal) 2 aripiprazole (Abilify) 3 olanzapine (Zyprexa) 4 quetiapine (Seroquel) 5 ziprasidone (Geodon, Zeldox) 6 olanzapine plus fluoxetine (Symbyax) 7 asenapine (Saphris)

How does bipolar differ from other depressive disorders?

People with bipolar disorder differ from those with other depressive disorders in that their moods swing from depression to mania, often with periods of relatively normal mood between the two extremes.

Why is heredity important in bipolar disorder?

Heredity is an important factor in bipolar disorder. Close relatives of people suffering from bipolar disorder are much more likely to develop it , or some other form of depression, than the general population . Environmental factors, such as troubled family relationships, may aggravate this disorder.

Why is it important to check your blood levels before taking lithium?

Because lithium can injure the heart, kidneys, or thyroid gland, it's important to have a physical examination and blood tests before taking it. The dose is usually increased gradually until the drug begins to work, and is then periodically adjusted. Blood levels of lithium are checked regularly; it is ineffective if the level is too low and risky if the level is too high.

When does bipolar disorder start?

The disorder usually begins with a depressive episode in adolescence or early adulthood. The first manic phase may not follow until several years later. The length of the cycle, from the heights of mania to deep depression, varies from person to person. The risk of suicide is high among people with bipolar disorder;

What are the health conditions of bipolar disorder?

Many people with the condition abuse alcohol or other drugs when manic or depressed. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have seasonal depression, co-existing anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

When does bipolar disorder start?

When someone develops bipolar disorder, it usually starts when they're in late adolescence or young adulthood. Rarely, it can happen earlier in childhood. Bipolar disorder can run in families.

What does it mean when you are depressed?

The word "depressive" describes the times when the person feels very sad or depressed. Those symptoms are the same as those described in major depressive disorder or "clinical depression," a condition in which someone never has manic or hypomanic episodes.

How long does a bipolar period last?

There are also usually extreme “down” periods that last at least 2 weeks.

How long does it take to get diagnosed with bipolar disorder?

But getting an accurate diagnosis is actually good news. It means you can finally get the treatment you need. People with bipolar disorder usually go about 10 years before being accurately diagnosed.

How long does it take for a bipolar episode to happen?

These episodes can happen over a period of weeks, months, and sometimes even years.

What does bipolar feel like?

People who have bipolar disordercan have periods in which they feel overly happy and energized and other periods of feeling very sad, hopeless, and sluggish. In between those periods, they usually feel normal. You can think of the highs and the lows as two "poles" of mood, which is why it's called "bipolar" disorder.

What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?

Treatment generally includes a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Complications of bipolar disorder can be serious, even life-threatening, and include delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts and, in extreme cases, suicide attempts.

Why is it important to communicate with people with bipolar disorder?

Because bipolar disorder is often misunderstood, other people may feel discomfort or uncertainty when around someone living with the condition. This can place an added burden on the person who has bipolar disorder, during a time when they need the support of friends and family more than ever. It is important to communicate with those close to you so they can understand what bipolar disorder is, what helps you manage symptoms, and the best ways for them to help.

What are the risk factors for bipolar disorder?

Risk factors include: Certain structural brain abnormalities. Family history of bipolar disorder or depression.

What is it called when you have mania and depression at the same time?

Some people with bipolar disorder may experience what is called a mixed state, which is a combination of symptoms of mania and depression that occur at the same time. In addition, some people with bipolar disorder can experience a rapid shifting from symptoms of mania to symptoms of depression called rapid cycling.

What is it called when you have a mix of mania and depression?

Some people with bipolar disorder may experience a combination of symptoms of mania and depression called a mixed state. In some cases, there can be a quick shifting from symptoms of mania to symptoms of depression called rapid cycling.

How many types of bipolar are there?

Doctors classify bipolar disorder into three primary types, based on the types of symptoms and episodes a person experiences: Bipolar I disorder, in which a person experiences at least one manic episode, a period of extreme energy or irritability that lasts at least one week.

How does bipolar affect you?

The severity and types of symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from person to person but generally affect mood, energy and functioning. Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of intense mania or euphoria that alternate with episodes of depression. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can seriously interfere with a person’s ability to function normally in relationships and activities of everyday life, such as work, school, social activities, and self-care.

What is the best treatment for bipolar disorder?

Therapy. Mental health professionals often recommend psychotherapy alongside medication to treat bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy. Psychotherapy has a range of benefits in addition to treating symptoms, such as providing support and education about living with bipolar disorder.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that involves shifts in mood, energy levels, and activity levels. Depending on the type of bipolar a person has, they may experience episodes of depression that interfere with their completion of daily tasks. These symptoms of depression are similar to those of other depression-related mood disorders, ...

How does bipolar affect your life?

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatments aim to stabilize a person’s mood and help them manage other symptoms. In some cases, a person’s mood changes can be severe. Mental health professionals adapt treatments to the individual to help reduce their impact on daily life and mental well-being. Treatment for bipolar disorder typically ...

How long does a manic episode last?

Bipolar I disorder is characterized by manic episodes that last for at least 7 days, or less if the symptoms are so severe that the person requires hospitalization.

How long does a person with bipolar live?

In fact, one study estimates that the average life expectancy of people with bipolar disorder is around 12–13 years lower than it is for people without the condition. However, effective treatment will reduce the risk of a person developing health complications related to bipolar disorder.

Can bipolar disorder cause anxiety?

Otherwise, people with bipolar disorder may also have other mental health problems, such as anxiety disorders, which can also make diagnosis more complex.

Can bipolar disorder be diagnosed with depression?

Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be challenging for several reasons. Its symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, such as depression or psychosis. Plus, some people may begin with a major depressive episode, without manic or hypomanic symptoms.

What is the best treatment for bipolar disorder?

Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, support groups and psychoeducation about the illness are essential to treating bipolar disorder: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps change the negative thinking and behavior associated with depression.

How does bipolar affect people?

Bipolar Disorder. Proper treatment helps most people living with bipolar disorder control their mood swings and other symptoms. Because bipolar disorder is a chronic illness, treatment must be ongoing. If left untreated, the symptoms of bipolar disorder get worse, so diagnosing it and beginning treatment early is important.

What is the goal of family focused therapy?

The goal of this therapy is to recognize negative thoughts and to teach coping strategies. Family-focused therapy helps people with bipolar disorder learn about the illness and carry out a treatment plan. Psychotherapy focused on self-care and stress regulation, and helps a person improve self-care, recognize patterns of the onset ...

Can antidepressants cause bipolar disorder?

Antidepressants present special concerns when used in treating bipolar disorder, as they can trigger mania in some people. A National Institute of Mental Health study showed that taking an antidepressant also to a mood stabilizer is no more effective that using a mood stabilizer alone for bipolar I.

Can bipolar disorder be better treated with medication?

With the prescribing doctor, work together to review the options for medication. Different types of bipolar disorder may respond better to a particular type. The side effects can vary between medications and it may take time to discover the best medicine.

Can bipolar affect a baby?

A complex risk-benefit discussion needs to occur to look at the treatment options available. Some medicines can have risk to the developing fetus and to children in breast milk. However, there is also evidence that being off of all medications increases the likelihood of bipolar symptoms, which itself creates risks to both mother and fetus or baby. Planning ahead and getting good information from your health care team based on your individual circumstances improves your chance of a best outcome.

Does lithium cause bipolar?

Lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith) is effective at stabilizing mood and preventing the extreme highs and lows of bipolar disorder. Periodic blood tests are required because lithium can cause thyroid and kidney problems. Common side effects include restlessness, dry mouth and digestive issues. Lithium levels should be monitored carefully to ensure the best dosage and watch for toxicity.

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• You'll probably need to make lifestyle changes to stop cycles of behavior that worsen your bipolar disorder. Here are some steps to take: 1. Quit drinking or using recreational drugs.One of the biggest concerns with bipolar disorder is the negative consequences of risk-taking behavior and drug or alcohol abuse. Get help if you have trouble quitting...

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