Bipolar disorder, what is it?

It happens to everyone to experience periods of happiness, sadness, excitement and be faced with some difficulties. But for some people, mood swings are exaggerated and extend well beyond what is normal, to become episodes of mania and depression. The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder remains a challenge and awareness among the general public is important to help people who are affected.

Bipolar disorder, which are also known as manic-depressive psychosis, are part of mood disorders. It is a medical condition that is characterized by changes in brain function.

People who have significant mood swings and can move from a state of euphoria to one of intense sadness. Uncontrollable, these mood swings are not necessarily associated with a particular event.

Symptoms

The mania characterized by boundless energy and an intense happiness or irritability, periods of mania can vary in intensity. An abnormally excited mood or irritability for over a week, accompanied by signs such as an exaggerated sense of self-esteem, less need for sleep, rapid speech, ideas that pass, distraction, behavioral Sex and financial risk, usually indicate an episode of mania. Those affected may also experience delusions (beliefs farms, but not impossible) and hallucinations.

Hypomania: these episodes are less extreme, but they persist for at least four days and have substantially the same symptoms as the period of mania. The difference is that hypomania cause fewer problems and does not hallucinations or delusions.

Depression: the symptoms of depression occur so intense and include a feeling of sadness, lack of interest in daily activities, loss of appetite, sleep problems such as nightmares and difficulty concentrating or memory problems, sudden social withdrawal or sudden aggressive behavior and suicidal tendencies.

Who is affected?

One hundred thousand Quebecers suffer from bipolar disorder and only 10% of them were diagnosed and undergoing treatment.

The first symptoms are triggered between the ages of 15 and 25 years. For cons, the most severe symptoms usually appear around age 30 years.

As many men as women suffer from bipolar disorder.

Causes

Bipolar disorder is not yet fully understood by researchers. By cons, some evidences show that these disorders involve several genes, making the symptoms and different treatments for each individual, and explain the higher incidence in one family.

The triggers of the disease in genetically vulnerable individuals include the use of stimulants or drugs, a high level of stress and sleep deprivation.

Preventing and treating bipolar disorder

With proper treatment, most bipolar people can live satisfying lives and function well at home and at work.

Medications acting on different brain systems is an important part of treatment of bipolar disorder. In addition to treating mania, the novel antipsychotics are now stabilizing and antidepressant properties can therefore treat the two facets of bipolar disorder.

Treatment often includes psychotherapy (talk therapy) in order to develop adaptation strategies or prevent episodes of mania in regulating sleep, diet and physical activity.