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showBipolar disorder is characterised by intense change in the energy, mood and physical functionalities of an individual. Patients experience mania, in which they become extremely happy, or depressive, in which they become despondent. Bipolar disorder makes it difficult for patients to socialise and continue their daily routines due to their vulnerable mental condition.
Till 2019, there were 40 million people suffering from bipolar disorder throughout the world [1]. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry in 2019 states that 7.6 million people in India had bipolar disorder in 2017 [2]. Here’s a quick glance at the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder.
Symptoms | Feeling high, jumpy and hyperactive in a manic state and feeling low, helpless and immensely sad in a depressive state |
Complications | Cardiovascular issues, diabetes, obesity, suicidal thoughts |
Causes | Genetics, chemical imbalances |
Onset | Symptoms can be observed at any stage of life |
Diagnosis | Physical test, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders test |
Prevention | There is no scientific prevention for bipolar disorder |
Medication | Lithium dosages, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics drugs |
Here’s a detailed overview of bipolar disorder – its symptoms, types, diagnosis, treatment and complications. Read on!
Bipolar disorder causes mainly three different states of mental conditions, which are manic, depressive and mixed states. Symptoms vary according to these mental states.
Here are some symptoms that patients may experience in their manic state of psychological conditions:
Following are some bipolar disorder symptoms patients in their depressive episodes:
Here are some of the symptoms patients may experience in their mixed psychological episodes:
Apart from these, bipolar disorder patients also deal with hypomanic episodes. It happens at the juncture of manic and depressive episodes. In a hypomanic state, patients think that everything is going fine. They can even manage social interaction properly. They may realise that their behaviour has become normal and all right. However, they may show symptoms of severe depression just after this hypomanic episode.
There are no exact causes that may lead to the development of bipolar disorder. Experts believe that one may develop this due to the combined effect of several risk factors as mentioned below [5]:
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals responsible for controlling the functions of the brain. Some of these effective neurotransmitters are serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. If one or more chemicals are inadequate or more than necessary, individuals can develop this bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder can also be a hereditary condition. Individuals may suffer if they have a family history of this disorder. According to a report, the chances of developing bipolar disorder become 1 in 10 in a child if one of the parents suffers from it [6]. The likelihood of getting the illness becomes 4 in 10 if both parents are patients of bipolar disorder [6].
Several environmental and genetic factors also act as factors triggering the bipolar disorder symptoms, as mentioned below:
Apart from these, sleep depravity, physical illness, and serious financial, professional or relationship problems can also act as triggers for symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorders are of three types, as mentioned below:
In bipolar I disorder, patients encounter one or more manic episodes. During these manic episodes, they can feel extremely energetic or irritable. Besides, they can also encounter episodes of depression that can last up to 2 weeks. So, two different extreme states of mood dictate their emotions. In bipolar I disorder, manic episodes can be very severe, causing patients to make frenzied actions that may lead to physical injuries.
Patients with bipolar II disorder deal with depressive and hypomanic mental states. They do not encounter episodes of complete manic mental states. Owing to this factor of no maniac state, they generally make frenzied movements which can be impairing for themselves. However, due to prolonged or chronic depressive state of mind, they can also become debilitated.
The cyclothymic disorder involves many shorter episodes of chronic mood swings that can last up to two years. The symptoms of manic and depressive episodes are milder than other types of bipolar disorders.
It is better to start the medical treatment process as soon as possible. If you are experiencing the signs or symptoms of bipolar disorder, you should contact a certified healthcare expert. You need to convey the symptoms to the doctor exactly as you experience them.
They will conduct the necessary tests and mental health evaluations to understand whether you are a patient with bipolar disorder. By timely diagnosis, you can start the medical treatment from an early stage and manage the signs and symptoms.
Individuals to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder must encounter one or more episodes of mania, hypomania or depression. The healthcare expert may suggest one or more of the below-mentioned tests for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder:
For the diagnosis of a particular type of bipolar disorder, doctors perform the methodical Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) test.
The prognosis of bipolar disorder may not be strong since nearly 50% of the patients need to witness a return of symptoms within 2 years of the first occurrence [9].
With the support of near ones, people who have bipolar disorder can live a right, effective and meaningful life. Patients can see significant improvement in terms of treating bipolar disorder with continuous medication, as suggested by doctors.
Besides referring medications, doctors also focus on forming positive habits and necessary skills within the patients to cope with their episodic mental conditions. Families also play a significant role in terms of giving proper care and emotional support.
Following are the different types of therapies that doctors may perform [10]:
In this therapy, the doctor educates patients about their psychological health and the course of action they can take. This way, they can become more self-aware. Its main objective is to influence patients to control their own actions. For this, psychiatrists make them cognizant of their own course of episodic actions. In addition, the concerned healthcare professional instructs patients’ family members about their roles in giving the required care.
IPSRT is an effective therapy for people suffering from mood disorders. In this treatment process, doctors assist patients in improving their moods methodically. They first assess the social and biological rhythms of patients and then teach skills they will need to control depressive or manic episodes. The treatment process also focuses on developing tailored techniques that enable patients to take medications timely, manage stressful situations and decrease occasions of disruptive social rhythms.
This therapy considers including the patients and their caregivers in the psychoeducation sessions provided by the experts. As a result, all of them get to know about the courses of action in which the patient can get involved and how caregivers can help them. It also focuses on improving problem solving and communication skills of patients.
The therapist trains individuals to become cognizant of their own thought processes and how they react to their emotional stimuli or triggers. Patients learn how their thoughts influence their course of action. They get to know how they can adopt and culture positive thoughts and dominate their negative impulses.
Apart from these therapies, doctors also use medications to prevent episodes of depression and mania and treat symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Following are some of the useful medications used as mood stabilisers[11]:
Lithium intake is an effective but long-term treatment procedure to curb the episodes of bipolar disorder. Doctors generally recommend using the drug for at least 6 months. If your doctor prescribes this medicine, you should continue its consumption regularly according to the doctor’s guidance. If the dosages you take are irregular or incorrect, you may experience side effects like diarrhoea. During your treatment, you also need to get an interim blood test to ensure that your body’s lithium level is in the right balance.
Anticonvulsants are mood stabilisers that doctors recommend to cure the episodic manic and depressive mental state of bipolar disorder. Some of the most effective anticonvulsant medicines are valproate, lamotrigine and carbamazepine. You may need to take any of these medicines singularly or in combination with lithium on your doctor’s recommendation.
Antipsychotic medicines like olanzapine, aripiprazole, risperidone, quetiapine, etc., help in treating mania. These also act as mood stabilisers, effective in the long term. Doctors generally prescribe these medications when the symptoms are intense.
There is no particular technique that can help you with bipolar disorder prevention. So, if anyone from your family has a record of suffering from bipolar disorder, you should stay completely aware of the early signs of this illness. If you think that you experience those signs and symptoms, you need to communicate the issue with your family members so that they can take proper care.
Further, you also need to refrain from taking substances that can cause a manic/hypomanic state of mind. Some of these are as mentioned below [6]:
If patients do not get the required treatment from an early stage, bipolar disorder will lead to intense mood changes, which can last up to 6 months. For example, if they are in a depressive episode of the disorder, it can continue for up to that long. Additionally, patients can also experience the following complications [6]:
According to a study, the average monthly cost of treatment for bipolar disorder is about Rs.770 per individual patient. Among the total cost of treatment, you may have to spend around Rs.390 for medications only.
Bipolar disorder is a severe psychological illness that restricts an individual’s ability to react normally to different emotional stimuli. Patients experience long episodes of manic and intense depressive mental states. In manic episodes, they become very excited and unusually active, whereas, in a depressive state, they become silent and feel intense sadness and hopelessness. It is, therefore, necessary that they get the required medical attention from an early stage.
Treatment facilities for bipolar disorder can put a substantial burden on you or your family. However, you can get yourself covered with a comprehensive health insurance policy. You can now purchase Navi Health Insurance to cover 100% of your hospital bill for up to Rs.1 Crore. Navi has more than 10,000 network hospitals across India from where you can get cashless treatment facilities. The affordable premium starts from only Rs.234/month. Get a quote now!
You need to admit a patient with bipolar disorder to a healthcare facility if the symptoms of the disease, i.e. the episodes of manic and depression, become a threat to them and others. For example, if they perform activities resulting in self-injury or if they have suicidal tendencies.
Following are the medical conditions when you need thorough supervision: Thoughts of suicide and death Thoughts of self-harming or hurting others Delusions and hallucinations Reactions of lithium toxicity like vomiting, nausea, vision changes, confusion, tremors in hand, etc.
You may need to contact the following medical experts to get the required treatment for bipolar disorder: Primary healthcare expert Psychiatrist Therapist or psychologist Neurologists
If you are undergoing the medical treatment process for bipolar disorder, you need to track the risk of getting diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. You also need to check your weight and blood pressure from time to time.
It is imperative that you stay active and eat a balanced diet to reduce your stress as well as the symptoms of bipolar disorder. You can also maintain or restore a balanced weight, a major complication of the disease, by taking a healthy diet.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2215-0366%2819%2930475-4
https://medlineplus.gov/bipolardisorder.html
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms/
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/causes/
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bipolar-disorder
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/bipolar-disorders/what-are-bipolar-disorders
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/diagnosis/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30502595/
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2019/Different-Types-of-Therapy-for-Bipolar-Disorder
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/treatment/
https://www.indjsp.org/temp/IndianJSocPsychiatry333262-2418499_064304.pdf
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9294-bipolar-disorde
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/living-with/
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2019/Different-Types-of-Therapy-for-Bipolar-Disorder
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