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Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

Bipolar spectrum disorder is a term used to describe a group of of mood disorders caused by a dysfunction in the brain. These disorders are broken down into four different types, and are diagnosed using a guideline called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Though bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition with no cure, it can be managed with proper diagnosis and treatment. However, one must first recognize the signs and seek help.

  1. Bipolar I

    • Bipolar I is defined by either manic episodes or a combination of manic-depressive episodes that last for a minimum of seven days. It can also be diagnosed if the mania symptoms are severe enough to require immediate hospitalization for the person experiencing them. A person with this disorder generally has episodes of depression that last for a minimum of two weeks. Symptoms include unusual optimism, inability to concentrate, impulsiveness and being delusional.

    Bipolar II

    • The person who is diagnosed with Bipolar II exhibits patterns of depression that interchange with hypomania (mild case of mania) episodes. However, they do not experience any full-blown mania or manic-depressive episodes. Symptoms for this type include prolonged periods of worry and anxiety, frequent crying, thoughts of suicide or depression and severe changes in eating or sleeping habits.

    Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

    • Some people display symptoms of bipolar disorder that do not fit into the criteria for Bipolar I or II. This may be because the symptoms do not last long enough or the person does not have enough symptoms to be diagnosed with Bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms they are displaying are obviously out of the realm of their normal behavior. This is known as Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. These symptoms may include a rapid change between manic and depressive symptoms that meet the criteria, but not for the required amount of time. These people may also experience episodes of hypomania which are not frequent enough to have them diagnosed with cyclothymic disorder.

    Cyclothymic Disorder

    • Cyclothymic Disorder is considered to be a mild form of Bipolar II with hypomania episodes that alternate with mild depression for at least two years. People with this disorder do not meet the requirements for the other types of bipolar disorders, and the mood swings they experience almost fall within the normal range of emotions. The symptoms of this disorder are identical to the symptoms of Bipolar I, but they are less severe and last for shorter periods of time.

    Risk Factors

    • There is no known cause for bipolar disorder, but there are certain risk factors that make a person more susceptible to developing it. The first is genetics. A person is four to six times more likely to develop bipolar disorder if a parent or sibling has been diagnosed with it. Chemical imbalances in the brain are another risk factor; there are neurotransmitters whose job is to regulate the mood in the brain. If the chemicals in these transmitters are out of balance, the mood regulation will be out of balance as well.

    Treatment

    • Most of the time, bipolar patients are prescribed medications such as mood stabilizers, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to help them manage their disorder. In addition, they may attend psychotherapy (talk therapy) as a means of support, education and guidance.

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