sarajane
01-03-08, 04:48
Do you get these symptoms?
Bipolar Affective Disorder until recently was known as Manic Depressive disorder
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) is a psychological illness that involves severe mood swings. These mood swings take the form of depression or mania and may last for several months at a time. During the time of depression, patients often have great sadness, guilt, no appetite, poor sleep and can not enjoy themselves.
Mania is the opposite of this with patients experiencing erratic and excited behavior. During mania patients often have increased libido, need less sleep, have excessive energy and can sometimes engage in risky behavior (such as gambling excessively) or can even become violent. Hypomania is a less extreme form of mania and while the symptoms are similar, they are less intense.
Some patients may also have a mixed episode that involves the symptoms of both a manic and depressed episode during a short period of time.
There is also a type called Rapid Cycling Bipolar Affective Disorder. With Rapid Cycling, the patient changes from depression to manic at least 4 times a year and episodes of depression and mania are short.
The most significant risk factor for BPAD is a family history of either BPAD or depression, with two thirds of patients with BPAD having some family history of mental illness. Genes are thought to account for 80% of cases of BPAD and research is underway to find out more information about how family history and genetics influence the risk of BPAD. BPAD is a lifelong condition with episodes of low and high mood. The course of the illness varies greatly between individuals.
Symptoms of BPAD (like depression) usually begin before age 20 with the 15 to 19 year old age group being most common. However, these symptoms are often ignored or misdiagnosed until a later age. The main reason is that almost half of all patients with BPAD will first have an episode of depression (only a quarter will first experience manic symptoms such as excited mood, excess energy, etc).
During life the patient will have episodes of low or high mood. Patients with Type I BPAD will have manic (high mood) episodes and depression (low mood) while Type II with have only mild manic episodes (called hypomanic) and more depressive episodes. Episodes, even if treated, usually last 3-6 months but can last considerably longer.
Depressive symptoms (such as low mood, low enjoyment with life, and a lack of energy) can last for years at a time. How often episodes occur is extremely variable between patients, however the usual time between first and second episode is about four years and then episodes occur about every year. Episodes often become more frequent over time (especially if untreated). Untreated, a typical BPAD Type I patient will experience 10 episodes of mania during their life with a number of depressive episodes.
Almost all patients will recover form a depressive or manic episode in time. However, BPAD often has considerable effect on a person's functioning and patients with BPAD often have relationship and occupational difficulties. During an episode of mania a person is likely to participate in risky behaviours (such as excessive gambling or risky sexual behaviours) and often places their finances and relationships at risk.
In recent studies about 25-35% of BPAD patients will return to the same level of functioning (education, work, social) that they had before they were diagnosed with BPAD. The majority however, will have continuing problems (especially in the work environment) despite having no ongoing symptoms, meaning the patient will have a normal mood but will continue to find it hard to function like they did before.
There is a high risk of suicide patients with BPAD. About 25% to 50% of patients with BPAD will attempt to commit suicide and about 80% will consider suicide. Although there is no truly accurate suicide figure it is estimated that 10-15% of BPAD patients die as a result of suicide. Suicide attempts are rare during mania but common during depressive episodes.
Most patients will first present with an episode of depression. Patients will also often have considerable anxiety and sometimes an eating disorder (such as anorexia).
Depressive symptoms are low mood, lack of pleasure, low energy, feelings of guilt, decreased concentration, decreased appetite and decreased sleep. These however are symptoms that are also present with depression or even some forms of schizophrenia, making the diagnosis of bipolar difficult.
About a quarter of patients will present with a manic episode. These patients will present with an elevated mood, excessive energy, decreased sleep, fast talking, sensational ideas, and an inflated self-esteem.
The diagnosis of BPAD is made on the clinical examination, although there are some tests to exclude other causes for mania. These tests include thyroid function tests, calcium levels, tests for infection (especially for syphilis or HIV), an electroencephalogram (to rule out epilepsy) and possibly a CT scan (to exclude any brain injury). The doctor may also do a routine drug screen as drugs like amphetamines or cocaine can have the same signs as BPAD.
The main treatment for BPAD is long term medication. There are several categories of treatment. There is different treatment for manic episodes, depressive episodes and rapid cycling. Apart for these treatments to stop episodes of depression and mania there is also long term maintenance therapy.
Treatment of a depressive episode in BPAD is different to the treatment of depression. Traditional anti-depressant medication should not be used in BPAD as this medication can bring on episodes of mania or hypomania and cause severe mood swings.
The final treatment for depressive episodes is ECT. The treatment has been shown to be a good alternative to drug treatment in patients with depressive episodes. Treatment of rapid cycling can be difficult as some drugs can in fact make the condition worse.
Psychotherapy can be used in BPAD. The goals of psychotherapy in BPAD are to improve regular taking of medicines, reduce any substance abuse (such as alcohol), improve lifestyle and help patients recognise symptoms of depression or mania earlier so that they seek appropriate treatment as soon as possible. There are 3 general types of psychotherapy that have been shown to be useful.
The goal of this therapy is to stop a patient with BPAD who is presently well going into an episode of mania or depression. This is often difficult and it is often impossible to stop these episodes.
Psycho-education - This educates the patient about BPAD, early signs of a manic or depressive episode and the importance of long term medication. There is good evidence for psycho-education as it improves regular taking of medicines and can help patients identify any stresses that will lead to an episode and try to change them.
Family Focus Therapy - This includes psycho-education but also helps to improve communication and problem solving within the family. The therapy has been shown to be effective at reducing the number of manic or depressive episodes over time.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - This works in a number of ways. Like psycho-education, it increases a patient's knowledge of the illness but it also helps the patient with returning to full functioning. Many patients with BPAD do not return to full employment or social life even when they are symptom-free. Cognitive behavioural therapy works to help restore a patient back to full functioning (full employment, social life, relationships, etc).
If these symptoms sound like your symptoms, go talk to your Doctor, there is also lots of good articles on the net explaining Bipolar.
This is just one link to read if you think you may have Bipolar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomanic_episode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomanic_episode)
Love
SJ
Bipolar Affective Disorder until recently was known as Manic Depressive disorder
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) is a psychological illness that involves severe mood swings. These mood swings take the form of depression or mania and may last for several months at a time. During the time of depression, patients often have great sadness, guilt, no appetite, poor sleep and can not enjoy themselves.
Mania is the opposite of this with patients experiencing erratic and excited behavior. During mania patients often have increased libido, need less sleep, have excessive energy and can sometimes engage in risky behavior (such as gambling excessively) or can even become violent. Hypomania is a less extreme form of mania and while the symptoms are similar, they are less intense.
Some patients may also have a mixed episode that involves the symptoms of both a manic and depressed episode during a short period of time.
There is also a type called Rapid Cycling Bipolar Affective Disorder. With Rapid Cycling, the patient changes from depression to manic at least 4 times a year and episodes of depression and mania are short.
The most significant risk factor for BPAD is a family history of either BPAD or depression, with two thirds of patients with BPAD having some family history of mental illness. Genes are thought to account for 80% of cases of BPAD and research is underway to find out more information about how family history and genetics influence the risk of BPAD. BPAD is a lifelong condition with episodes of low and high mood. The course of the illness varies greatly between individuals.
Symptoms of BPAD (like depression) usually begin before age 20 with the 15 to 19 year old age group being most common. However, these symptoms are often ignored or misdiagnosed until a later age. The main reason is that almost half of all patients with BPAD will first have an episode of depression (only a quarter will first experience manic symptoms such as excited mood, excess energy, etc).
During life the patient will have episodes of low or high mood. Patients with Type I BPAD will have manic (high mood) episodes and depression (low mood) while Type II with have only mild manic episodes (called hypomanic) and more depressive episodes. Episodes, even if treated, usually last 3-6 months but can last considerably longer.
Depressive symptoms (such as low mood, low enjoyment with life, and a lack of energy) can last for years at a time. How often episodes occur is extremely variable between patients, however the usual time between first and second episode is about four years and then episodes occur about every year. Episodes often become more frequent over time (especially if untreated). Untreated, a typical BPAD Type I patient will experience 10 episodes of mania during their life with a number of depressive episodes.
Almost all patients will recover form a depressive or manic episode in time. However, BPAD often has considerable effect on a person's functioning and patients with BPAD often have relationship and occupational difficulties. During an episode of mania a person is likely to participate in risky behaviours (such as excessive gambling or risky sexual behaviours) and often places their finances and relationships at risk.
In recent studies about 25-35% of BPAD patients will return to the same level of functioning (education, work, social) that they had before they were diagnosed with BPAD. The majority however, will have continuing problems (especially in the work environment) despite having no ongoing symptoms, meaning the patient will have a normal mood but will continue to find it hard to function like they did before.
There is a high risk of suicide patients with BPAD. About 25% to 50% of patients with BPAD will attempt to commit suicide and about 80% will consider suicide. Although there is no truly accurate suicide figure it is estimated that 10-15% of BPAD patients die as a result of suicide. Suicide attempts are rare during mania but common during depressive episodes.
Most patients will first present with an episode of depression. Patients will also often have considerable anxiety and sometimes an eating disorder (such as anorexia).
Depressive symptoms are low mood, lack of pleasure, low energy, feelings of guilt, decreased concentration, decreased appetite and decreased sleep. These however are symptoms that are also present with depression or even some forms of schizophrenia, making the diagnosis of bipolar difficult.
About a quarter of patients will present with a manic episode. These patients will present with an elevated mood, excessive energy, decreased sleep, fast talking, sensational ideas, and an inflated self-esteem.
The diagnosis of BPAD is made on the clinical examination, although there are some tests to exclude other causes for mania. These tests include thyroid function tests, calcium levels, tests for infection (especially for syphilis or HIV), an electroencephalogram (to rule out epilepsy) and possibly a CT scan (to exclude any brain injury). The doctor may also do a routine drug screen as drugs like amphetamines or cocaine can have the same signs as BPAD.
The main treatment for BPAD is long term medication. There are several categories of treatment. There is different treatment for manic episodes, depressive episodes and rapid cycling. Apart for these treatments to stop episodes of depression and mania there is also long term maintenance therapy.
Treatment of a depressive episode in BPAD is different to the treatment of depression. Traditional anti-depressant medication should not be used in BPAD as this medication can bring on episodes of mania or hypomania and cause severe mood swings.
The final treatment for depressive episodes is ECT. The treatment has been shown to be a good alternative to drug treatment in patients with depressive episodes. Treatment of rapid cycling can be difficult as some drugs can in fact make the condition worse.
Psychotherapy can be used in BPAD. The goals of psychotherapy in BPAD are to improve regular taking of medicines, reduce any substance abuse (such as alcohol), improve lifestyle and help patients recognise symptoms of depression or mania earlier so that they seek appropriate treatment as soon as possible. There are 3 general types of psychotherapy that have been shown to be useful.
The goal of this therapy is to stop a patient with BPAD who is presently well going into an episode of mania or depression. This is often difficult and it is often impossible to stop these episodes.
Psycho-education - This educates the patient about BPAD, early signs of a manic or depressive episode and the importance of long term medication. There is good evidence for psycho-education as it improves regular taking of medicines and can help patients identify any stresses that will lead to an episode and try to change them.
Family Focus Therapy - This includes psycho-education but also helps to improve communication and problem solving within the family. The therapy has been shown to be effective at reducing the number of manic or depressive episodes over time.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - This works in a number of ways. Like psycho-education, it increases a patient's knowledge of the illness but it also helps the patient with returning to full functioning. Many patients with BPAD do not return to full employment or social life even when they are symptom-free. Cognitive behavioural therapy works to help restore a patient back to full functioning (full employment, social life, relationships, etc).
If these symptoms sound like your symptoms, go talk to your Doctor, there is also lots of good articles on the net explaining Bipolar.
This is just one link to read if you think you may have Bipolar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomanic_episode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomanic_episode)
Love
SJ