Bipolar Disoder Basics...Manic Depressive Free
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness
caused by a number of factors including neurological, biological,
emotional, and environmental factors. It is typically characterized
as mood cycling from manic, or extra happy moods to depressed, or
extra sad, moods.
manic depressive
Many people are not aware that in the last few years doctors have
begun diagnosing bipolar disorder as two different types, based on
how the moods cycle in the patient. Bipolar disorder type 1, also
known as raging bipolar disorder, is diagnosed when the patient has
at least one manic episode lasting at least one week or longer.
Bipolar disorder type two, also known as rapid cycling bipolar
disorder, is diagnosed when the patient has at least one manic
episode and one depressive episode within four days to one week.
Hypomania is a severe form of mania that typically occurs in bipolar
disorder type 1 patients. This state occurs because the patient is
almost constantly up; the normal state for the patient is 1 of mania.
Therefore, mood cycling in bipolar disorder type 1 patients often
involves mania combined with the mood change. Mania combined with
mania creates hypomania. Hypomania also can be accompanied by
psychotic symptoms such as the patient becoming delusional or having
hallucinations. This is a very simplistic way to describe how
hypomania and mixed episodes occur.
Mixed episodes also often occur with bipolar disorder type 1. A
mixed episode is hard to explain to the general public. It consists
of being both happy and sad, up and down, all at the same time.
Generally, this translates into the patient being very depressed
emotionally, but displaying symptoms of mania such as inability to
concentrate and lack of sleep.
Bipolar disorder type 1 is the most common type of bipolar disorder,
and the most treatable. Because bipolar disorder type 1 typically
manifests itself in the form of long manic periods with possibly one
or two short depressive periods each year, treatment options are much
more simple. Since mania requires one type of medication and
depression requires another type of medication, the ability to treat
only mania makes finding effective medications a much simpler task.
Mood stabilizers are also quite effective with type 1 bipolar
disorder, without the use of mania or depression medications.
The symptoms that the bipolar disorder type 1 patient experiences
determines the type of mania medication used to control the excessive
moods. In cases of mild but constant mania, lithium is the drug of
choice. However, in cases in which mixed mania or hypomania are
consistently present, a stronger drug or anti-psychotic, such as
Depakote, is typically prescribed.
Bipolar type 1 is also the likeliest candidate for treatment via
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is because the patient is
most often in a state that allows them to easily focus their mind on
rationalizing situations, recognizing triggers, and suppressing
severe episodes. However, when the patient displays symptoms of
hypomania, as some bipolar type 1 patients often do, cognitive
behavioral therapy is not as effective during these episodes.
Overall, bipolar disorder type 1 is easily controlled through
appropriate treatment and medications. If you experience any
symptoms of bipolar disorder type 1 you should contact your doctor to
make arrangements for diagnostic testing and to discuss treatment
options. Ultimately, the patient is responsible for their own
illness, and therefore, their own treatment.
manic depressive
caused by a number of factors including neurological, biological,
emotional, and environmental factors. It is typically characterized
as mood cycling from manic, or extra happy moods to depressed, or
extra sad, moods.
manic depressive
Many people are not aware that in the last few years doctors have
begun diagnosing bipolar disorder as two different types, based on
how the moods cycle in the patient. Bipolar disorder type 1, also
known as raging bipolar disorder, is diagnosed when the patient has
at least one manic episode lasting at least one week or longer.
Bipolar disorder type two, also known as rapid cycling bipolar
disorder, is diagnosed when the patient has at least one manic
episode and one depressive episode within four days to one week.
Hypomania is a severe form of mania that typically occurs in bipolar
disorder type 1 patients. This state occurs because the patient is
almost constantly up; the normal state for the patient is 1 of mania.
Therefore, mood cycling in bipolar disorder type 1 patients often
involves mania combined with the mood change. Mania combined with
mania creates hypomania. Hypomania also can be accompanied by
psychotic symptoms such as the patient becoming delusional or having
hallucinations. This is a very simplistic way to describe how
hypomania and mixed episodes occur.
Mixed episodes also often occur with bipolar disorder type 1. A
mixed episode is hard to explain to the general public. It consists
of being both happy and sad, up and down, all at the same time.
Generally, this translates into the patient being very depressed
emotionally, but displaying symptoms of mania such as inability to
concentrate and lack of sleep.
Bipolar disorder type 1 is the most common type of bipolar disorder,
and the most treatable. Because bipolar disorder type 1 typically
manifests itself in the form of long manic periods with possibly one
or two short depressive periods each year, treatment options are much
more simple. Since mania requires one type of medication and
depression requires another type of medication, the ability to treat
only mania makes finding effective medications a much simpler task.
Mood stabilizers are also quite effective with type 1 bipolar
disorder, without the use of mania or depression medications.
The symptoms that the bipolar disorder type 1 patient experiences
determines the type of mania medication used to control the excessive
moods. In cases of mild but constant mania, lithium is the drug of
choice. However, in cases in which mixed mania or hypomania are
consistently present, a stronger drug or anti-psychotic, such as
Depakote, is typically prescribed.
Bipolar type 1 is also the likeliest candidate for treatment via
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is because the patient is
most often in a state that allows them to easily focus their mind on
rationalizing situations, recognizing triggers, and suppressing
severe episodes. However, when the patient displays symptoms of
hypomania, as some bipolar type 1 patients often do, cognitive
behavioral therapy is not as effective during these episodes.
Overall, bipolar disorder type 1 is easily controlled through
appropriate treatment and medications. If you experience any
symptoms of bipolar disorder type 1 you should contact your doctor to
make arrangements for diagnostic testing and to discuss treatment
options. Ultimately, the patient is responsible for their own
illness, and therefore, their own treatment.
manic depressive