What Is Bipolar Manic Depression?
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression (and alternatively known as manic-depressive illness), is a brain disorder characterized by extreme changes in mood that affect one's ability to complete normal activities. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, the condition often becomes apparent early in life, with 50 percent of cases in the U.S. emerging before age 25.
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Features
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Difficult to recognize in its early stages, bipolar disorder is often left untreated for years because the signs may seem unrelated or not particularly drastic. The most common symptoms are mood episodes, which are periods of distinct emotional states such as extreme joy or excitement (manic episode); equally extreme sadness or depression (depressive episode); less-intense, moderate mania (hypomania); and less-intense, mild depression. Mixed states with features of both mania and depression also are possible, as are highly variable levels of activity, inactivity and sleep. Additional behavioral changes might include distraction, restlessness, impulsiveness and engaging in high-risk acts such as spontaneous sex.
Types
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The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" divides bipolar disorder into four categories: (1) Bipolar I Disorder (mood episodes that last seven days or that require hospitalization); (2) Bipolar II Disorder (alternating depressive and hypomanic episodes without manic or mixed episodes); (3) Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified or BP-NOS (abnormal symptoms that are too short or few to justify a diagnosis of Bipolar I or II); and (4) Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia (mild bipolar disorder that lasts for two years and that includes shifting episodes of hypomania and mild depression).
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Risk Factors
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Scientists believe that many factors contribute to the development of bipolar disorder, including genetics. The condition tends to strike multiple family members, however, studies of identical twins (who have the same genes) indicate genes aren't the only factor because bipolar disorder can afflict one twin and not the other. Studies that incorporate imaging technology have further demonstrated that the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from individuals who are healthy or suffer from another mental condition.
Treatment
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Since there is currently no cure for bipolar disorder, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms. Possible treatments include prescription medications (for example, mood-stabilizing drugs like lithium, atypical antipsychotic drugs like olanzapine and antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine), psychotherapy and contemporary electroconvulsive therapy (previously called shock therapy) when the first two options prove ineffective.
Co-occurring Conditions
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Bipolar disorder often occurs in conjunction with other disorders or problems, although it remains unclear if the latter are a result of bipolar disorder or a symptom. For instance, sufferers often abuse substances like alcohol or drugs, which can dampen bipolar symptoms and/or exacerbate and prolong them. Bipolar disorder also frequently coexists with anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which features overlapping symptoms like restlessness. Moreover, physical conditions like heart disease, obesity and migraines can both trigger manic or depressive symptoms and arise from treatment to alleviate bipolar disorder.
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