We all experience a variety of moods such as happiness, sadness, and anger. Unpleasant moods and changes in mood are normal reactions in everyday life, and we can often identify the events that caused our mood to change. However, when we experience extreme mood changes that affect how we behave and function, these changes are often the result of a mood disorder.
Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive disorder) is a mood disorder that consists of periods of extremely elevated mood (mania), extremely low mood (depression), and normal mood.
Bipolar disorder typically begins for people during adolescence and early adulthood. The most common onset is from the teenage years to the early 30s. It is unusual for bipolar disorder to begin in childhood without strong familial risk factors, and it is rare for its onset to occur after the age of 60 (unless it is associated with another medical condition). Bipolar disorder occurs in about 2% of Canadian adults, and men and women are affected equally. The rate of suicide for people with bipolar disorder is around 10 to 30 times higher than that of the general population.
There is no single, proven cause of bipolar disorder, but research suggests that it is the result of abnormalities in the way some nerve cells in the brain function or communicate. Researchers also believe that there is a definite genetic link (family history) in which there is a higher risk for people who have a parent or full sibling (i.e., a first-degree relative) with bipolar disorder.
Whatever the precise nature of the cause of bipolar disorder, it clearly makes people with the disorder more vulnerable to emotional and physical stresses. As a result, upsetting life experiences, alcohol, illicit drug use, lack of sleep, certain antidepressants, or other stresses can trigger episodes of illness, even though these stresses do not actually cause the disorder.
Bipolar disorder is not the fault of the person suffering from it and is not the result of a "weak" or unstable personality. Rather, bipolar disorder is a treatable medical condition.
People with bipolar disorder will receive treatment to manage their current episodes as well as treatment on a long-term basis to prevent future episodes. Components of treatment include medications and psychosocial treatments. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can also be used, but is usually reserved for people who do not respond to treatment with medications for bipolar disorder.
Medications for bipolar disorder must be customized to fit the individual because the patterns and severity of this disorder vary from one person to the next. Long-term medications are commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Medications used to manage bipolar disorder include:
Other medications may be prescribed to manage symptoms such as trouble sleeping, anxiety, or restlessness.
It is important for people with bipolar disorder to keep taking their medications in order for the medications to work properly in managing this condition. Do not stop taking these medications or adjust the dose on your own without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist first. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist if you have any questions about the medications you are taking and ask about possible side effects.
Psychotherapy treatments for bipolar disorder can include group therapy and individual psychotherapy. Family therapy can help people and their families understand bipolar disorder, learn how to best manage the condition, and learn how to prevent other complications from occurring. Support groups can help people by sharing common feelings and experiences about bipolar disorder, its treatment, and its management.
Other things that a person with bipolar disorder can do to help reduce symptoms include:
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Bipolar-Disorder
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