Bipolar Disorder
Manic Depressive Disorder
Manic
- irritability
- Increased energy and activity
- Excessive talk; racing thoughts
- Inflated self-esteem
- Unusual energy; less need for sleep
- Impulsiveness, a reckless pursuit of gratification (shopping sprees, impetuous travel, more and sometimes promiscuous sex, high-risk business investments, fast driving)
Depression
- Depressed mood and low self-esteem
- Low energy levels and apathy
- Sadness, loneliness, helplessness, guilt
- Slow speech, fatigue, and poor coordination
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Suicidal thoughts and feelings
- Poor concentration
- Lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Diagnosis
A bipolar disorder diagnosis is made only by taking careful notes of symptoms, including their severity, length, and frequency.
Treatment
- Bipolar disorder is treated with three main classes or medication: mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants.
- Typically, treatment entails a combination of at least one mood- stabilizing drug and/or a typical antipsychotic, plus psychotherapy.
Bipolar 1 disorder
Mood swings with bipolar 1 cause significant difficulty in your job, school, or relationships. Manic episodes can be severe and dangerous.
Bipolar 2 disorder
Bipolar 2 is less severe than bipolar 1. You may have an elevated mood, irritability and some changes in your functioning, but generally you can carry on with your normal daily routine. Instead of full-blown mania, you have hypomania — a less severe form of mania. In bipolar II, periods of depression typically last longer than periods of hypomania.
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is a mild form of bipolar disorder. With cyclothymia, hypomania and depression can be disruptive, but the highs and lows are not as severe as they are with other types of bipolar disorder.