Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterised by recurring episodes of mania, depression and possibly psychotic symptoms. About 1% of the adult population has bipolar disorder and the illness often runs in families. Bipolar disorder is a long term illness that must be managed with medication and psychosocial treatments for the prevention of episodes.
Bipolar typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, and some develop then late in life.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mood (affective) disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe.
Symptoms of Bipolar can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance and even suicide. But bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
It is often not recognised as an illness, and people may suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life.
Types of bipolar
Episodes of mania and depression typically recur across the life span. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people still do experience some. A small percentage of people experience symptoms constantly over a long time, even with treatment.
The classic form of the illness, which involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression, is called bipolar I disorder. Some people, however, never develop severe mania but instead experience milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression; this form of the illness is called bipolar II disorder. When four or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, a person is said to have rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. This is more common in women than men.
Risk of harm
Research has shown that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to die from suicide or circulatory disorders than members of the general public. People on long-term treatment with antidepressants alone or with an antipsychotic, or with lithium in combination with antidepressants and/or antipsychotic showed significantly lower suicide rates even though the treated were more severely ill. Lithium has been shown to reduce suicide rates in people with bipolar disorder.
The risk of suicide appears to be higher earlier in the course of the illness. Therefore, recognising bipolar disorder early and learning how best to manage it may decrease the risk of death by suicide.
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