Bipolar Depression

Bipolar Disorder and Its Causes

Bipolar disorder is a common mental health condition associated with severe episodes of

erratic mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. Bipolar disorder impacts

people of all demographics and provokes changes in an individual’s mood, energy, and ability to

function. Researchers believe a combination of genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors such

as sleep and stress, and altered brain structure and chemistry may result in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is mainly passed down through the family, so an individual’s risk for bipolar

disorder depends on their family history and whether they have a close relative diagnosed.

However, the exact reason this disorder affects certain people is currently unknown.

Bipolar Disorder and Its Characteristics

Bipolar disorder, also previously known as manic depression or manic-depressive

disorder, is a lifelong mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These mood

swings include mania/hypomania, characterized by emotional highs, and periods of depression,

characterized by emotional lows. During episodes of mania and hypomania, one may exhibit

unusually irritable behavior and a surplus of energy. Manic episodes are more intense and cause

more noticeable issues in daily life. They may also trigger psychosis and may require

hospitalization. Both manic and hypomanic episodes include at least three of the following:

abnormal agitation, increased activity, an exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence, a

decreased need for sleep, unusual talkativeness, faster speech, racing thoughts, distractibility, and

flawed decision-making. During depressive episodes, one may experience sadness and lose

interest in many activities. A major depressive episode may cause noticeable problems and

difficulty to an individual while they are performing simple, daily tasks. A major depressive

episode includes five or more of the following symptoms: depressed mood, marked loss of

interest in activities, significant weight loss, weight gain, or a decrease or increase in appetite,

insomnia or sleeping too much, restlessness or slowed behavior, fatigue or loss of energy,

feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt, decreased ability to think or

concentrate, indecisiveness, and suicidal thoughts. However, people with bipolar disorder

generally also experience periods of neutral moods. These extreme mood swings can negatively

affect sleep, energy levels, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly. The

periods in which each episode of mood swings lasts vary from person to person and may occur

rarely or frequently.

Bipolar Disorders and Diagnoses

There are many different types of bipolar and similarly related disorders. To diagnose

bipolar disorder, doctors may utilize a physical exam, medical history relating to your symptoms,

lifetime history, experiences, family history, medical tests, and a mental health evaluation.

Bipolar I disorder is characterized by at least one manic episode that may be preceded or

followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by at

least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but not a manic episode.

Both bipolar I and bipolar II are two different diagnoses. However, they may share similar symptoms. For example, they may include anxious distress, melancholy, psychosis, and more.

Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by at least two years in adults and at least one year in

children and teenagers of many periods of hypomania and periods of depression, though they are

less severe.

Bipolar Disorder and Treatment

Bipolar disorder may be managed by following a treatment plan. Usually, doctors treat

bipolar disorder with medications and psychological counseling, also known as psychotherapy or

talk therapy. Psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants and “mood stabilizers” (an example of this is

lithium) to treat bipolar disorder since these medications correct imbalanced brain signaling.

Each individual’s treatment plan is different since each diagnosis is different. Talk therapy

(psychotherapy) also helps many patients in their treatment plans for their bipolar disorder. Talk

therapy may help relieve a patient’s stress and decrease the possibility of extreme mood swings

in the future. Talk therapy may help one recognize their emotions, increase their self-awareness,

and give them support and coping strategies. In rarer cases where medication and psychotherapy

have not helped, ECT, electroconvulsive therapy, may be used to treat bipolar disorder. Several

rounds of an electrical current are applied to the scalp while the patient is under anesthesia,

leading to a short and controlled seizure. These ECT-induced controlled seizures remodel brain

signaling pathways and help treat bipolar disorder. Another way to treat bipolar disorder may

include regular aerobic exercise, which may help with depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.