Share
Bipolar mood disorder is a medical condition that affects the brain giving periods of extremely high mood and periods of very low mood. This describes the extreme mood swings from depression and sadness to elation and excitement. Extreme emotions are called mania and low ones are called depression. Mania describes the most severe state of extreme elation and over activity. This disorder causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Bipolar disorder often develops at the age of twenty five which is person's late teens or early adult years. Bipolar disorder is the fifth biggest reason for disability all over the world. The lack of knowledge in understanding bipolar disorder can result in suicide. Bipolar disorder is the ninth leading cause of years lost to suicide or disability worldwide.
Bipolar mood disorder is caused by chemical imbalance in brain, hormonal imbalance, genetic factors, environmental factors and cognitive instabilities. The chemical balance in brain is affected by neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. Brain imaging studies are helpful to scientists for understanding bipolar disorder.
Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Mixed Bipolar Disorder are the four types of bipolar disorder. The bipolar I disorder includes severe mood swings while the bipolar II disorder is a much milder when you compare it to bipolar I disorder, though it is complicated to diagnose. Cyclothymic disorder is milder and has rapid cycle of hypomania and depression and it normally occurs in individuals who have no history of depression or mania. In the mixed type, both depression and extremes mania occur simultaneously.
Bipolar mood disorder looks very different in different people. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency of disorder. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression, while others alternate equally between mania and depression sessions. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others experience it rarely in their lifetime. There are four types of mood episodes in bipolar disorder and it includes mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed periods. Each type of bipolar disorder session has a unique set of symptoms. People with bipolar mood disorder experience recurrent problems of mania and depressions. Bipolar disorder co- occurs with anxiety disorders like post traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Bipolar mood disorder is a lifelong and recurrent illness; people with the disorder need long-term treatment to maintain control of bipolar symptoms. An effective maintenance treatment plan includes medication and psychotherapy for preventing bipolar disorder and reducing symptom severity. Medications are given by psychiatrists after understanding bipolar disorder severity in individual. Mood stabilizing medications are prescribed mostly followed by atypical antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. Bipolar disorder must be treated with appropriate medications otherwise it might lead to death.
