Bipolar Disorder Facts & Figures
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What is Bipolar?
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Bipolar, originally labeled manic-depression, is a mood disorder identified by back-and-forth episodes of mild-to-severe depression and mania. It can be destructive to a person's daily life and tends to worsen over time if left untreated.
Types
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There are four basic types: bipolar I, bipolar II, bipolar not-otherwise-specified and cyclothymia. The difference between types varies based on the severity of a person's symptoms. For example, someone with bipolar I will often experience full-blown mania. Cyclothymia, however, is a mild form and symptoms don't reach the levels of severity that the other types do.
Symptoms of Mania
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People experiencing mania may feel "high" on life, like they're capable of anything. They can be overly-happy or really irritable and can also become easily distracted. Racing thoughts cause them to talk fast, shift from one idea to another and often they will act impulsively. The need for sleep can be diminished or even unneeded.
Symptoms of Depression
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Depression is the opposite of mania. People feel empty, find it difficult to focus. They may be restless, but can also sleep too much. Change of habits and loss of interest in favored activities is common. Suicide is a high risk, especially for people with type I.
Statistics and Risk Factors
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About 2.3 million American adults are diagnosed as bipolar. Ninety percent of those Americans admit that the disorder affects their ability to complete every day tasks. Diagnoses for bipolar require adult criteria, so many children with the disorder are often initially diagnosed with ADD or depression. With one bipolar parent, a child's risk of having the disorder is between 15-30 percent. If both parents have it, the risk increases to 50-75 percent.
Treatment
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Bipolar is a brain disorder that affects mood and behavior. Mood stabilizers such as Lithium or Depakote are often prescribed along with psychotherapy for behavior.
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