Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme changes in peoples mood, energy, and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar experience high and low moods, known as mania and depression, which differ from the typical ups-and-downs most people experience.
What age does bipolar disorder occur?
Most people develop the first symptoms of bipolar disorder between age 15 to 30 years with most common age of onset of 25.
How common is bipolar disorder?
The condition affects men and women equally, with about 2.8% of the U.S. population diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
How does bipolar disorder affect someone's life?
Bipolar disorder can make it hard to do a good job at work or school and have relationships with friends and family. Bipolar disorder even increases the risk of suicide if it is not treated or treated incorrectly. However, a number of effective treatment options are available.
What are symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
People with bipolar experience high and low moods, known as mania (or hypomania) and depression, which differ from the typical ups-and-downs most people experience. If some has bipolar disorder, they may sometimes feel excessively elated, elevated, impulsive, irritable, or illogical (called mania or hypomania). Other times, they may feel excessively sad (called major depression).
Mania causes people to feel abnormally and persistently happy, angry, hyperactive, impulsive, and irrational at different times. These feelings last at least one week, and may be severe enough that they need to be treated in a hospital. When people are experiencing a time of hypomania or mania, people may also experience:
Getting angry quickly
Being more active than normal
Feeling like they have special powers
Feel like they don't need sleep or feeling rested after 3 or less hours of sleep
Make poor choices without thinking
Start lots of things and not finish them
People with depression feel very sad and have trouble doing ordinary things like bathing, getting dressed, and cooking. During a depressive episode, people may feel sad most of the day or you may have little or no interest in any activity. When someone's mood is very sad, people can also experience:
Lose or gain a lot of weight
Have trouble falling asleep or sleep too much
Feel very tired
Not enjoy things
Feeling bad about themselves
Think about death or hurting themselves
Is there a test for Bipolar Disorder?
No, there is no test. Instead, the diagnosis is based upon a medical and psychiatric history and mental status examination. A qualified mental health professional (including counselors, therapists and social works) or medical provider can diagnose bipolar disorder.
What is the difference between mania and hypomania?
Hypomania is less severe than mania, but it causes a change in mood that is abnormal. Hypomanic episodes are usually briefer than manic episodes, but last for at least four days. Hypomania may not seriously affect your ability to work or go to school, and some people actually function better during a hypomanic episode. Hypomania should be treated with medicines because it may lead to a manic or depressive episode.
What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?
Treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of therapy and medication. Therapy is performed by a licensed social worker, counselor, therapist, or psychologist. There are many different types helpful for bipolar disorder with the most common including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy. Medications used to treat bipolar disorder are prescribed by a medical provider; however, due to the complexity of the medication used to treat bipolar disorder, people with bipolar disorder often are referred to a psychiatrist, psychiatric physician associate (PA), or psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP). The medication used to treat bipolar disorder including two different classes of medications called mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.
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