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Bipolar Affective Disease

Bipolar affective disease, also known as bipolar disorder, is characterized by high and low mood swings. According to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, 5.7 million American adults are diagnosed with bipolar affective disease, and several million remain undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed with other psychiatric diseases. Bipolar disorder symptoms surface in the late teens to mid-thirties, but diagnosis can occur at any age. Bipolar affective disease has a genetic link, as in cases where a close relative has suffered from a psychiatric condition. However, it is also diagnosed with no evident family history of the disease.

  1. Definition

    • Bipolar affective disease encompasses the group of mood disorders in which a patient demonstrates extreme highs, extreme lows or a combination of mania and depression. Bipolar affective disorder is also called manic depression or bipolar disorder, and is categorized as bipolar I, bipolar II, and bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified) and cyclothymia disorder (a mild form). Bipolar I patients have extreme manic episodes typically resulting in hospitalization and depressive episodes lasting over 1 week. A bipolar II diagnosis has episodes of depression and hypomania, which is milder than a full manic episode. A bipolar NOS diagnosis is to patients who do not experience the disorder in the same way as bipolar I or II, but still have the fluctuating mood swings. Cyclothymia disorder is a milder bipolar form. Bipolar patients may also experience mixed mood stages, which includes manic and depressive symptoms at the same time. Being in an over excitable state while also being severely depressed puts a patients at risk to act on suicidal thoughts.

    Manic Symptoms

    • Mania ranges from mild to extreme. Patients experiencing extreme episodes of mania may have hallucinations and delusions, and feel invincible. Other symptoms include jumpiness, insomnia, irritability, restlessness and hyperactivity.

    Depressive Symptoms

    • Depressive episodes also range from mild to extreme depression. Depression can include feeling constantly fatigued and staying in bed for hours at a time. A loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, prolonged sadness, problems concentrating and feelings of worthlessness also characterize a depressive episode. Other serious symptoms include changes in eating and sleeping patterns and lingering thoughts or plans of suicide.

    Coexisting Illnesses

    • People with bipolar affective disorder typically have coexisting illnesses. Patients may turn to alcohol and drugs in order to deal with the extreme symptoms of the disease---substance abuse is the most common co-morbid illness. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also present with bipolar affective disorder; because these diseases all have similar symptoms, diagnosing bipolar affective disease is extremely difficult.

    Medications

    • Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, it is manageable with medication and psychotherapy. Mood stabilizing drugs, such as lithium, Neurontin and Depakote, are typically prescribed first. Anti-psychotic medications such as Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa and Abilify, and antidepressant medications like Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft and Wellbutrin, also treat bipolar affective disease. Sleeping medications are also used in some patients experiencing severe insomnia with bipolar disorder.

    Other Treatment Options

    • Psychotherapy is an effective treatment option for bipolar disorder; cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy are two beneficial talk therapies. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is also been effective in treating bipolar affective disease; it has been referred to as shock therapy or electroshock as well. During this procedure, electrodes are attached to a patient's scalp and electrical current is applied to the brain, creating a seizure. ECT has been used to treat severe depression, bipolar affective disorder and other psychiatric illnesses.

    Warnings

    • If you are having constant thoughts of death and/or suicide or know someone who is, contact your local hospital's emergency room for immediate professional help. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), which is available 24 hours a day.

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