So the relationship between their mental health issues and artistic creativity is by no means clear. One of the biggest dangers of an increase in desirability for bipolar disorder is that it could be leading to increased rates of misdiagnosis.
This is important because the mood stabilising drugs used to treat bipolar disorder carry the risks of significant side-effects. Some of the mood stabilisers are very harmful to foetuses, for example, and so should not be given to women of child-bearing age unless they are prepared to use contraception. Some are also very toxic in overdose and so require careful monitoring.
These drugs should not be given to people where it is not clear they actually have bipolar disorder. Anecdotally, I have both seen and heard of this occurring in the teams across the city where I work. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and active lives.
Talking with a doctor or other licensed health care provider is the first step. The health care provider can complete a physical exam and order necessary medical tests to rule out other conditions. The health care provider may then conduct a mental health evaluation or provide a referral to a trained mental health care provider, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker who has experience in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder.
Accurate diagnosis in youth is particularly important. Note for Health Care Providers: People with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help when they are depressed than when they are experiencing mania or hypomania. Taking a careful medical history is essential to ensure that bipolar disorder is not mistaken for major depression. This is especially important when treating an initial episode of depression as antidepressant medications can trigger a manic episode in people who have an increased chance of having bipolar disorder.
Some bipolar disorder symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, which can make it challenging for a health care provider to make a diagnosis. In addition, many people may have bipolar disorder along with another mental disorder or condition, such as an anxiety disorder , substance use disorder , or an eating disorder. People with bipolar disorder have an increased chance of having thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses.
Psychosis: Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression may experience psychotic symptoms , such as hallucinations or delusions. For example:. As a result, people with bipolar disorder who also have psychotic symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed with schizophrenia.
When people have symptoms of bipolar disorder and also experience periods of psychosis that are separate from mood episodes, the appropriate diagnosis may be schizoaffective disorder. Anxiety: It is common for people with bipolar disorder to also have an anxiety disorder.
Misuse of Drugs or Alcohol: People with bipolar disorder may misuse alcohol or drugs and engage in other high-risk behaviors at times of impaired judgment during manic episodes. Although the negative effects of alcohol use or drug use may be most evident to family, friends, and health care providers, it is important to recognize the presence of an associated mental disorder.
Eating Disorders: In some cases, people with bipolar disorder also have an eating disorder, such as binge eating or bulimia. Researchers are studying the possible causes of bipolar disorder. Brain Structure and Functioning: Some studies indicate that the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of people who do not have bipolar disorder or any other mental disorder.
Learning more about these differences may help scientists understand bipolar disorder and determine which treatments will work best. Genetics: Some research suggests that people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder. Research also shows that people who have a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder have an increased chance of having the disorder themselves. Many genes are involved, and no one gene can cause the disorder. Learning more about how genes play a role in bipolar disorder may help researchers develop new treatments.
Treatment can help many people, including those with the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness. Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder are free of mood changes, but some people may have lingering symptoms. Long-term, continuous treatment can help people manage these symptoms. Certain medications can help manage symptoms of bipolar disorder. Some people may need to try several different medications and work with their health care provider before finding medications that work best.
Treatment plans may also include medications that target sleep or anxiety. Health care providers often prescribe antidepressant medication to treat depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, combining the antidepressant with a mood stabilizer to prevent triggering a manic episode. Avoid stopping a medication without talking to a health care provider first. For the most up-to-date information on medications, side effects, and warnings, visit the U. Psychotherapy is a term for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
It can provide support, education, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Treatment may include therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT and psychoeducation, which are used to treat a variety of conditions. Treatment may also include newer therapies designed specifically for the treatment of bipolar disorder, including interpersonal and social rhythm therapy IPSRT and family-focused therapy.
The team hopes it will give them all a common structure to use during studies, treatment decisions and more. All of these elements combine to affect the disease as patients experience it.
The Prechter program is named for a Detroit automotive pioneer who fought bipolar disorder even as he built a successful business. Long-term funding from this program has made it possible to build a massive library of data from the Prechter cohort of patients, which is two-thirds female and 79 percent white with an average age at enrollment in the study of 38 years. On average, participants had their first depressive or manic episode at age Many had other mental health conditions.
The seven phenoclasses, as the U-M team has dubbed them, include standard measures doctors already use to diagnose and track the progress of bipolar disorder.
Changes in cognition, which includes thinking, reasoning and emotion processing. Measures of behaviors related to substance use or abuse — called motivated behaviors. Some of the key findings the U-M team made in the Prechter cohort include:.
Eating disorders, anxiety disorders and alcohol problems are also more common in those with bipolar disorder , as is metabolic syndrome. Our understanding of bipolar disorder has certainly evolved since ancient times. Great advances in education and treatment have been made in just the past century alone.
Today, medication and therapy help many people with bipolar disorder manage their symptoms and cope with their condition. Fortunately, research is ongoing to help us understand even more about this confusing chronic condition.
The more we learn about bipolar disorder, the more people may be able to receive the care they need. Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, causes extreme mood shifts ranging from mania to depression. We explain the symptoms, diagnosis…. You may be more likely to develop bipolar disorder if you have a family member with the condition. Learn more about the connection. Bipolar 1 disorder and bipolar 2 disorder cause your feelings to hit unusual highs and lows.
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Bipolar disorder causes a range of symptoms that can be distressing and disruptive to your life.
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