DOC ON CALL
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER AND WHY DISCUSS IT?
Most people have heard of manic depression which is characterized by mood instability. Patients go through extremes of mood with mania and depression. Bipolar disorder is present in 1% of the population and is present in men and women at an equal rate. It usually occurs between the ages of fifteen to thirty.
I think it is important to discuss this as it is one of the few psychiatric illnesses which is exceptionally rewarding to treat, especially since there are many medications that work in the treatment of this disorder; however, studies have shown that it takes an average of 10 years for a patient to get diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and to be treated appropriately once they start to have symptoms.
The reason for this is manifold. Some patients present with depression as the primary symptom and will diagnosed to have depression and be treated as such. Other patients, in spite of having major mood symptoms, will not seek treatment as they are unaware of how the mood instability is affecting their lives, while others like the feeling of being manic and feel they are more productive during those times and will therefore not seek help.
Signs and symptoms of the manic phase include euphoria or a feeling on top of the world, inflated self esteem, racing thoughts (going a mile a minute or more!) rapid, pressured speech and aggressive or agitated behavior. They might also present with decreased need to sleep and increased activity, increased sexual drive, poor judgment and risky behavior, Some patients find that they engage in superfluous shopping sprees.
On the other hand depressive phase is characterized by feeling sad or blue; feeling hopeless, worthless, difficulty sleeping, poor energy level and loss of interest in daily activities. Suicide is a major problem in these patients if left untreated, obviously that is an emergency. If this should occur the best option is to call 911 and reach out to someone close to the individual.
If left untreated bipolar disorder can be exceptionally devastating and can lead to problems in social, occupational, legal and financial areas of a patient’s life. Substance use is very often associated with the disorder.
Many treatments are available for this disorder with medications and psychotherapy being the mainstay of treatment. It is important to see a psychiatrist for treatment and be adherent to the treatment plan as the risk of not treating it is huge. I will discuss the various treatments next week.
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