What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is also called manic
depression, it is a mental illness that is characterized by severe mood swing, repeated
episodes of depression, and at least one episode of mania. Bipolar disorder is
a kind of mood disorder that afflicts more than 1% of adult in the United
States, up to as many as 4 million people. Here are some additional statistics
about Bipolar disorder : A) Bipolar
disorder is the fifth leading cause of disability worldwide. B) Bipolar
disorder is the ninth leading cause of years lost to death or disability worldwide.
C) the number of individuals with Bipolar disorder who commit suicide is 60
times higher that of the general population. D) People with bipolar disorder
are at a higher risk of also suffering from substance abuse and other mental
health problems. E) Males may develop bipolar disorder earlier in life compared
to females. F) Black are sometimes diagnosed more often with Bipolar disorder
compared to whites. This disease was
conceptualized by Emil Kraeplin more than 100 years ago at which time he described
it as manic-depressive insanity. ( source, MedicineNet.com)
In order to qualify for the diagnosis
of Bipolar disorder a person must experience at least one manic episode.
Symptoms of mania must last at least a week ( unless it is a mixed episode) and
include : A) elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. B) racing thoughts. C)
pressured speech ( rapid, excessive speech) D) decreased need for sleep. E)
grandiose beliefs ( for example, feeling like one has super powers or
superlative talents or faults.) F) tangential speech (repeatedly changing
topics to topics that are hardly related.) G) increased goal directed activity.
H) impulsive and poor judgment.
Symptoms of the manic episodes of
early onset bipolar disorder tend to include outbursts of anger and rage, as
well as irritability, as opposed to the expansive, excessively elevated mood
seen in adult. The adolescent with bipolar disorder is more likely to exhibit
depression and mixed episodes, with rapid changes in mood. Despite, differences
in the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents compared to
adults many who are diagnosed with certain kinds of bipolar disorder before
adulthood continue to have those symptoms as adults.
