Bipolar defective

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression or bipolar affective disorder is a mood disorder, classified under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – IV TR published by the American Psychiatric Association. The onset of bipolar affective disorder is generally from late teenage to early adulthood. Lately however this is evidence to suggest that there could also be a childhood onset of the condition.

A psychiatric condition, bipolar disorder is often confused with other conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder or schizophrenia due to an overlap of certain symptoms. However the primary characteristic of bipolar disorder is sudden, extreme and often cyclical mood shifts, swinging between depression and mania. Basically mania is an elevated mood characterised by euphoria, rapid speech, racing thoughts, decreased sleep, hyper-activity, increased sense of self-worth, impulsive and very often reckless behaviour, inappropriate sexual acts, hallucinations, delusions etc. On the other hand, depression is the polar opposite with symptoms of extreme lethargy, tiredness, increased sleep, decreased attention and concentration, increased distractedness, low self esteem, suicidal ideation etc.

Bipolar affective disorder is very often tricky to diagnose because a lot of the symptoms may seem like regular mood swings or the result of some other condition. Often the symptoms are also misdiagnosed. However in order to help with correct diagnosis, the DSM-IV TR subdivides bipolar affective disorder into types depending on the intensity and frequency of the symptoms.

These subtypes of bipolar affective disorder include Bipolar disorder type I which is the classic form of bipolar affective disorder. To classify as Type I, the person has had to have experienced on or more manic episodes or mixed episodes. Though depressive episodes are not criteria, they most often exist in bipolar disorder type I.

Bipolar Type II is characterised by at least one major depressive episode as well as hypomanic episodes. Hypomania differs from mania in its less severe intensity and does not include psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. It also does not cause as much impairment as mania. Hence it is more difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder type II.

The third subtype of bipolar affective disorder is Cyclothymia includes hypomanic episodes along with depressive episodes which do not qualify as major depression. Thus there will be an absence of psychotic symptoms and suicidal ideation. Cyclothymia is basically a low grade cycling of mood.

The causes of bipolar affective disorder, like many other psychiatric conditions, are unknown or not specific to one factor. The primary cause for bipolar affective disorder is considered to be genetic. Studies have revealed that if a parent or close family member has the condition, the person is high risk for developing the same. Twin studies have also been carried out to understand the influence of genetics on the onset of bipolar affective disorder. Other causes include external stressors which influence the mental makeup of a person.

Treatment includes medication as well as psychotherapy.