Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a medical illness that is manifested by unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
STATISTICS
about 5.7 million American adults or about 2.6 percent of the population age 18 and older in any given year, have bipolar disorder.
The median age of onset for bipolar disorders is 25 years. Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, and some develop them late in life.
SYMPTOMS
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs/lows are called episodes of mania or depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
DIAGNOSIS
To reach a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, a psychiatrist will usually conduct the following:
As described above, there are a number of symptoms that are common for manic and depressive episodes.
If no physical cause is found, if no other psychiatric disorder better accounts for symptoms, if the current symptoms have been of significant duration or cause significant impairment in functioning, a patient may then be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
TREATMENT
Most people with bipolar disorder—even those with the most severe forms—can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, long-term preventive treatment is strongly recommended and almost always indicated. A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is ideal for managing the disorder over time.
In most cases, bipolar disorder is much better controlled if treatment is continuous than if it is on and off. But even when there are no breaks in treatment, mood changes can occur and should be reported immediately to your doctor. The doctor may be able to prevent a full-blown episode by making adjustments to the treatment plan. Working closely with the doctor and communicating openly about treatment concerns and options can make a difference in treatment effectiveness. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life.
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