Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder comprises a spectrum of conditions where an individual is vulnerable to both periods of abnormally low mood and periods of abnormally elevated mood.
What is bipolar disorder?
Usually individuals with Bipolar disorder suffer mainly with depression. Episodes of abnormally elevated mood are typically less frequent and less obvious and are therefore often overlooked. As a consequence most people with a bipolar type mood disorder are often initially diagnosed with depression. This can result in months and sometimes years of ineffective treatment with antidepressants: which either don’t work, work only briefly or in some cases make matters worse.
Causes of depression
Current evidence suggests Bipolar Disorder runs in families, with individuals inheriting genes which make them vulnerable to periods of unstable mood. It is thought a complex interaction between these genetic risk factors and stressful life events contributes to the development of mood problems, often in early adult life.
Symptoms of abnormally low mood include:
- Tearfulness
- Loss of interest in normal activities
- Loss of enjoyment
- Reduced self care
- Lower than usual energy and motivation
- Loss of concentration
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt or hopelessness
- Reduced sex drive
- Disrupted sleep
- Altered appetite
- Suicidal thoughts
Symptoms of abnormally elevated mood include:
- Feeling unnaturally happy and excitable
- Excessive confidence
- Boundless energy and reduced need for sleep
- Increase speed of thinking and enhanced creativity
- Speaking unusually fast
- Increased impulsivity, including over-spending
- Sex drive increased beyond normal
- Saying or doing things which are out of character
- Appearing irritable and driven
Treatment of Bipolar Disorders
Treatment typically involves finding the right medication and depending on your priorities can be specifically focussed on alleviating depression, preventing episodes of elevated mood or maintaining mood stability. National guidelines suggest treating Bipolar Depression with medicines other than antidepressants. Consideration will also be given to appropriate lifestyle interventions, optimising sleep, stress management and psychological interventions such as CBT.