Facts

• Many famous people had bipolar disorder, including Ernest Hemingway, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Sir Isaac Newton and Beethoven (ocag.tribe.net).
• Bipolar disorder can occur alongside other disorders like depression, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, panic disorder, Tourette’s syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder (Psychiatric Times).
• One percent (1%) of Canadians aged 15 years and over reported symptoms that met the criteria for a bipolar disorder in the previous 12 months (Public Health Agency of Canada).

Causes

There is no single cause for bipolar disorder, but there are many factors that act together to cause the illness, including and not limited to; genetics, environmental pressures (ex: family and work), social environment, stress, injury and/or illness.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Symptoms

Since mood swings are evident with this disorder, there are periods (commonly known as episodes) of mania, depression and normalcy.

Manic Episode Symptoms

• Increased energy, restlessness or activity
• Extreme irritability
• Overly good/euphoric mood
• Distractibility, low concentration
• Little sleep needed
• Racing thoughts, talking really fast, jumping from one idea to the next
• Spending sprees
• Poor judgment
• Increased sex drive
• Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
• A lasting behaviour that’s different from usual
• Denial that anything is wrong
• Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, sleep medications and alcohol
• Provocative, aggressive and intrusive behaviour

A manic episode occurs when mood is elevated and three or more symptoms occur throughout the day, nearly every day, for at least one week.

Depression Symptoms

• Feelings of guilt, helplessness or worthlessness
• Can’t sleep or sleeping too much
• Anxious
• A lasting sad or empty mood
• Change or loss in appetite
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Irritability, restlessness
• Feelings of pessimism or hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Lack of energy
• Feelings of fatigue
• Chronic pain or other bodily symptoms that aren’t caused by injury or physical illness
• Suicidal thoughts, thoughts of death or suicide attempts

A depressed state occurs when there are five or more of these symptoms that last most of the day for two weeks or longer.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Bipolar disorder is hard to diagnose physiologically, meaning that you can’t see it on a brain scan or through a blood test. In order to diagnose the disorder, a doctor has to look at symptoms, family history and the course of the illness. It is important that you get checked out by a doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms for a long time. Most people feel as though they can control it themselves or blame it on something else. The treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of medication and therapy.

Outlook

Anyone diagnosed with bipolar disorder should not feel as though they are doomed for life. The disorder is treatable with the right psychiatrist, medications and therapy.

Types

Bipolar I disorder, which is the classic form, features recurrent episodes of depression and mania. If left untreated there is a high risk of reoccurrence and suicide for this type. It is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15-24 years old. Bipolar I Disorder is often associated with: alcoholism, drug addiction, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Social Phobia. This type has the chance of affecting both sexes equally at any age, and the average age at onset is 21.

In bipolar II disorder there is no development of severe mania, but rather a milder episode of mania that alternates with depression. Bipolar II disorder is often overlooked because the person can appear normal in how excited, energetic and productive they are. Bipolar II does not have psychotic features, such as hallucinations and delusions.

The third type of bipolar disorder is rapid cycling bipolar disorder or cyclothymic disorder, which develops later in the course of the illness and occurs when there are four or more episodes of the illness occurring within a 12 month period. This type of Bipolar disorder can be made worse by anti-depressant medication. This type has the highest risk for suicide due to high energy levels and high depression levels. Women are more likely than men to have this type.

The last form is called bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, which means that it doesn’t fit into any of the above categories. It involves both mania and depression.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada
Web MD
Internet Mental Health

Books

The Bipolar Child by Janice & Demitri Papolos

Acquainted with the Night: A Parent’s Quest to Understand Depression and Bipolar in his Children by Paul Raeburn

Links