Bipolar Disorder
Angel Walker
Basic Description
Bipolar Disorder is a recurrent disease that can be unpredictable. Its a long term condition with no actual cure, only ways to control the symptoms. Bipolar Disorder typically begins in adolescence and early adulthood and continues through life. Bipolar Disorder transitions between depression and mania.
Symptoms
when you have Bipolar Disorder you go through mood swings and can become extremely irritable. The symptoms of Bipolar Disorder include hallucinations, delusion, depression, racing thoughts, and you go through the phases of either depression or mania. you could also have proactive, intrusive, or aggressive behavior.
Causes
Theres not a direct cause of Bipolar Disorder. It tends to run in families and is believed to be inherited. There is growing evidence that environment and lifestyle issues have an effect on the disorders severity.
Diagnosis
Psychiatrists and psychologists typically use DSM-IV-TR to diagnose Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder often gets confused with other disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. The most important diagnostic tool is to openly talk with your doctor. The doctor must hear about signs and symptoms from the patient in order to effectively diagnose.
Treatment
Bipolar Disorder can be severe and long term, or it can be mild with infrequent episodes. A combination of mood stabilizers with antidepressants, anti-psychotics, and anticonvolsants may be used to regulate manic and depressive episodes. Lithium is the most common drug used to treat Bipolar Disorder.
Prevalence
Bipolar Disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability worldwide. The most common age for it to begin is 25. At least two million Americans suffer from this disability. Its estimated that about 3% of people in the United States have Bipolar Disorder at some point.
People with Bipolar Disorder
- Demi Lovato
- Kurt Cobain
- Edgar Allen Poe
- Robin Williams
- Tim Burton
- Jimi Hendrix