Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects about 2.3 million adult Americans, which is about 1.2% of the population. Bipolar disorder is considered a rare disease. Until recently the disorder was most commonly found in adults. In recent studies, researchers have found that their was a striking difference between adults and children: Among children boys were more common to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder and among adults women were more likely to be diagnosed with the disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder may become suicidal, especially during mixed states such as dysphonic mania and agitated depression (Papolos, D and Papolos, J, 2000). The standardized ratio of suicide for bipolar disorder is approximately 18 to 25, although, many people with the disorder who attempt suicide never actually complete it. The suicide rate in males and females is 10 to more than 20 times that in the general population (Bower, 2007).

A person with bipolar disorder typically cycles between two extremes, often with periods of normal mood in between. There are four types of mood episodes that can occur in bipolar disorder. These episodes are mania, hypomania, depression, and a mixed episode. In the mixed episode individuals are energetic, cheerful, talkative, sleep very little, and are hyperactive. People with mania also tend to be reckless, impulsive, and quick to anger. They will lash out at other and lack insight. People in this episode will rarely seek help because they feel great and don’t recognize that anything is wrong. Some other signs that a person is experiencing mania are that they have racing thoughts, risky behavior, impaired judgment, and inflated self-esteem. The hypomania episode is like the mania episode but much milder. People in this episode are able to carry on with their day- to-day lives. To others, it may seem as if the hypomania individual is just in an unusually good mood. However hypomania episode will usually escalate to a full blown mania or is followed by a major depression. The third stage of bipolar disorder is the depressive phase. People in this episode tend to move and speak slowly and sleep a lot. They are also more likely to have a psychotic depression. The depressive phase of bipolar disorder is often very severe, with suicide as a major risk factor. Symptoms of this episode may include, sleep changes, appetite or weight changes, self loathing, fatigue or loss of energy, and concentration problems. Lastly the mixed episode features symptoms of both full blown mania and depression (Evans and Andrews, 2005).

Bipolar disorder can be difficult to detect. People can go years without being correctly diagnosed. There is no laboratory test to detect bipolar disorder. There is a simple questionnaire that can help a doctor determine is someone has common symptoms (Gellene, 2007). The Bipolar disorder can take several forms. There are three different types of the disorder. The first one is called Bipolar 1 Disorder. This deals with the mania and depression episodes. The individual must encounter at least on manic episode or mixed episode. Although a previous episode of major depression is not required for diagnosis, the vast majority of people with Bipolar 1 Disorder have experienced one. Usually this type of bipolar involves recurring cycles between mania and depression. The second type is called Bipolar 11 Disorder. This type deals with hypomania and depression episodes. The individual will not experience full blown manic episodes but will experience hypomania and sever depression. In order to be diagnosed you must have experienced as least one hippomanic episode and one major depressive episode in your lifetime. If you ever have a manic episode then your diagnosis would be changed to Bipolar 1 Disorder. The third type is Cyclothymia. This is also known as cyclothymiac disorder, which is a milder form of bipolar disorder. This type consists of several mood swings like bipolar disorder. However, the highs and lows are not severe enough to qualify as either mania or major depression. To be diagnosed you must experience numerous periods of hypomania and mild depression over at least a two year time