Pathophysiology of Bipolar I Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition caused by malfunctioning neurotransmitters in the brain. The consequence of this malfunctioning is a shifting to extreme moods. With bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, the shift is usually not sudden but slowly becomes more extreme. Bipolar disorder is a severe condition that sometimes requires hospitalization. Four different forms of the disorder exist but Bipolar I is considered the most serious.

Manic Episode

• A person diagnosed with Bipolar I must have had at least one manic episode in his lifetime. A manic episode is marked by lack of sleep, feelings of superiority, extreme talkativeness, and extreme risk-taking behaviors such as spending all of his money or sleeping with strangers.

Depressive Episode

• A Bipolar I diagnosis does not require a history of depressive episodes, which are very similar in nature to unipolar depression. Most patients do have depressive episodes. In fact, these episodes are often wrongly diagnosed.

Impairment

• With either type of extreme mood episode, the condition must be severe enough to interfere with daily activities.

Risk of Suicide

• The rate of suicide attempts among patients with bipolar disorder is 20 times higher than for the general population. People who have bipolar disorder are more likely to attempt suicide as they are emerging from a depressive episode.

Risk of Violence

• Manic episodes can compromise cognitive ability and can prevent rational thought. As a result, people in the midst of a manic episode have a greater risk of attempting violence against another person.