There are mental disorders that can be described by the disturbance in an individual’s mood. These mental disorders are called mood disorders. The mood disturbance can be mild and can include depression, mania, or hypomania, or any combination of these.
Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder. It involves swings in mood from elation to depression with no discernable external cause. The patient experiences swings from depression to mania. During the manic phase of this disorder, the patient may show unnecessary, unwarranted silliness. They may also show poor judgment and recklessness and may be argumentative. A manic person may speak rapidly, have unrealistic ideas, and jump from subject to subject. They possibly cannot sit still for very long. These symptoms are predominant for a certain period of time lasting for a few days . Hospitalization can often be necessary to keep the person from harming themselves and others. Bipolar disorder has another side, the depressive episode. Bipolar depressed patients often sleep more than usual and are lethargic. This contrasts with those with major depression, who usually has trouble sleeping and is agitated. Irritability and withdrawal symptoms can be seen during bipolar depressive episodes.
What causes mood disorders is not well known. There are chemicals in the brain, called endorphins, that are responsible for positive moods. Other chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, regulate endorphins. Studies show that mood disorders are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Unwanted incidents in life can also add to a depressed mood. On the other hand, genetic factors could be a prospect in causing bipolar disorder. Since it is related to depression, a gene may be responsible for the occurrence of the disorder. And this gene may be triggered by the environment, such as serious life-changing events. Evidence suggests that environmental factors play a significant role in the development and course of bipolar disorder, and that individual psychosocial variables may interact with genetic dispositions.
There are long-term studies that people who develop bipolar disorder have shown subtle early traits of sub-threshold cyclical mood abnormalities, full major depressive episodes, and possibly ADHD with mood fluctuation . There may be hypersensitivity and irritability. There is some disagreement whether the experiences are chronic. A history of stimulant utilize in childhood is found in high numbers of bipolar patients and has been found to be a reason of an earlier inception of bipolar disorder, worse clinical course, independent of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Mood stabilizer medications are usually used to cure bipolar disorder. Psychiatric drugs are sometimes used. Psychotherapy also has a function, often when there has been some recovery of stability. In serious cases in which there is a threat of harm to oneself or others involuntary commitment may be used; these cases commonly entail severe manic episodes with depressive episodes with suicidal intention.
Making a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is quite a complicated case. The reason is due to the fact that the pattern of highs and lows varies in every patient. There are some people where mania or depression can last for weeks or months, even for years. For other people, bipolar disorder takes the form of frequent and dramatic mood shifts.
According to Michael Aronson, MD, a clinical psychiatrist, there’s a whole spectrum of symptoms and mood changes that have been found in bipolar disorder. It’s not always dramatic mood swings. In fact, some people seem to get along just fine. The manic periods can be very, very productive. They think things are going great. The menace comes when the mania grows much worse. Changes can be very dramatic, with catastrophic outcomes. People can get involved in reckless behavior, spend a lot of money, there may be sexual promiscuity, sexual risks. The depressed phases can be equally dangerous: A person may have frequent thoughts of suicide.
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