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How Many Bipolar Disorders Are There

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Signs And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Help: 5 Reasons Why Many Dont Seek It Out | HealthyPlace

On average, it may take up to 6 years for someone to get a bipolar disorder diagnosis. This could be due to the difficulty of differentiating it from depression. It could also be due to the presence of a co-occurring disorder or addiction.

The American Journal of Managed Care says 56 percent of bipolar people have an addiction. Alcohol is the substance bipolar people abuse the most. Such substances complicate the disorder screening process. They make it difficult to make a timely and accurate diagnosis.

Its tough to diagnose young patients as well. Thats because teenagers are at the age where they can experience constant mood swings. Some of them also experiment with many drugs. This skews the results of their medical checkups.

Patients go through about three incorrect diagnoses before doctors discover they are bipolar. Dr Wes Burgess wrote that in Bipolar Handbook: Real-Life Questions with Up-to-Date Answers. This means people suffer from their symptoms for years before they get treatment.

The problem with this condition going untreated is it may destroy the persons life. It leads to bankruptcy, risky behavior, substance abuse, deteriorating relationships, and death. Moreover, struggling to understand ones risky actions can cause more stress.

As mentioned earlier, the various symptoms appear during one of the patients episodes. Out of the normal phase, the patient will be in a depressive or manic state.

  • High-energy and tirelessness
  • Strong sex drive

What Are The Types Of Bipolar Disorder

Because people often just say they have bipolar disorder, many dont know there are several types of bipolar disorder. Indeed, the type of bipolar disorder that a person has matters when it comes to understanding the illness. Read on to learn about how many types of bipolar disorder there are, what theyre like, and which type of bipolar disorder is most severe.

What Is Bipolar Disorder

As bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that greatly impacts a persons mood and overall disposition, people who have bipolar disorder may find it difficult to manage their daily life. Whether its struggling to complete small, menial tasks at work, or maintaining close relationships in their personal lives, everyday situations pose a real challenge. There are three types of bipolar disorder and each range in severity and duration. For instance, depression caused by bipolar disorder typically lasts at least two weeks, but some individuals will have several depressive episodes and mood changes each year, while others rarely experience these shifts. It is important to note that bipolar episodes can occur during pregnancy or even change with the seasons.

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How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed

A psychiatrist or other mental health professional typically diagnoses bipolar disorder. The diagnosis will include a review of both your medical history and any symptoms you have that are related to mania and depression. A trained professional will know what questions to ask.

It can be very helpful to bring a spouse or close friend with you during the doctors visit. They may be able to answer questions about your behavior that you may not be able to answer easily or accurately.

If you have symptoms that seem like bipolar 1 or bipolar 2, you can always start by telling your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist if your symptoms appear serious enough.

A blood test may also be part of the diagnostic process. There are no markers for bipolar disorder in the blood, but a blood test and a comprehensive physical exam may help rule out other possible causes for your behavior.

Doctors usually treat bipolar disorder with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

Mood stabilizers are often the first drugs used in treatment. You may take these for a long time.

Lithium has been a widely used mood stabilizer for many years. It does have several potential side effects. These include low thyroid function, joint pain, and indigestion. It also requires blood tests to monitor therapeutic levels of the drug as well as kidney function. Antipsychotics can be used to treat manic episodes.

Bipolar Disorder In Children

Bipolar One

Diagnosing bipolar disorder in children is controversial. This is largely because children dont always display the same bipolar disorder symptoms as adults. Their moods and behaviors may also not follow the standards doctors use to diagnose the disorder in adults.

Many bipolar disorder symptoms that occur in children also overlap with symptoms from a range of other disorders that can occur in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .

However, in the last few decades, doctors and mental health professionals have come to recognize the condition in children. A diagnosis can help children get treatment, but reaching a diagnosis may take many weeks or months. Your child may need to seek special care from a professional trained to treat children with mental health issues.

Like adults, children with bipolar disorder experience episodes of elevated mood. They can appear very happy and show signs of excitable behavior. These periods are then followed by depression. While all children experience mood changes, changes caused by bipolar disorder are very pronounced. Theyre also usually more extreme than a childs typical change in mood.

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Who Uses Dsm V

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders.

Causes Of Bipolar Disorder

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , bipolar disorders average start is 25 years.

Though it is more common in women, men have an earlier onset of the disease. Women may start with a depressive phase while men may start with a manic episode.

Doctors dont know the exact cause of this disorder. Even so, the likely causes are:

  • Genetic factors and family history
  • Stressful or traumatic events
  • Presence of another anxiety disorder, such as depression
  • Biological or neurological changes, for example, due to hormonal imbalances
  • Environmental factors, such as having a bipolar parent

Various studies show certain genes increase the chance of having the disease. As for family history, many bipolar patients have someone in the family who has the disease as well. To be clear, having this family history does not mean the illness will occur.

Stressful events could involve death or being in an abusive relationship. They could involve suffering long-term illness. Such events trigger immense grief, pain, and even illness due to a weakened immune system.

Over time, this stress becomes chronic and starts affecting other areas of the persons life. Signs of this appear as anxiety, weight gain, affected memory, and high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, bipolar disorder lasts a lifetime. As such, patients must learn how to manage their symptoms. If not, they could become a danger to themselves and others.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary. But they involve mood swings known as mood episodes:

  • The symptoms of a manic episode can include
  • Feeling very up, high, or elated
  • Feeling jumpy or wired, more active than usual
  • Having a very short temper or seeming extremely irritable
  • Having racing thoughts and talking very fast
  • Needing less sleep
  • Feeling like you are unusually important, talented, or powerful
  • Do risky things that show poor judgment, such as eating and drinking too much, spending or giving away a lot of money, or having reckless sex
  • The symptoms of a depressive episode can include
  • Feeling very sad, hopeless, or worthless
  • Feeling lonely or isolating yourself from others
  • Talking very slowly, feeling like you have nothing to say, or forgetting a lot
  • Having little energy
  • Eating too much or too little
  • Lack of interest in your usual activities and being unable to do even simple things
  • Thinking about death or suicide
  • The symptoms of a mixed episode include both manic and depressive symptoms together. For example, you may feel very sad, empty, or hopeless, while at the same time feeling extremely energized.
  • Your mood episodes may last a week or two or sometimes longer. During an episode, symptoms usually occur every day for most of the day.

    Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders 5th Edition

    What Is Bipolar Disorder?

    In May 2013, American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . There are several proposed revisions to occur in the diagnostic criteria of Bipolar I Disorder and its subtypes. For Bipolar I Disorder 296.40 and 296.4x , the proposed revision includes the following specifiers: with psychotic features, with mixed features, with catatonic features, with rapid cycling, with anxiety , with suicide risk severity, with seasonal pattern, and with postpartum onset. Bipolar I Disorder 296.5x will include all of the above specifiers plus the following: with melancholic features and with atypical features. The categories for specifiers will be removed in DSM-5 and criterion A will add or there are at least 3 symptoms of major depression of which one of the symptoms is depressed mood or anhedonia. For Bipolar I Disorder 296.7 , the listed specifiers will be removed.

    The criteria for manic and hypomanic episodes in criteria A & B will be edited. Criterion A will include “and present most of the day, nearly every day”, and criterion B will include “and represent a noticeable change from usual behavior”. These criteria as defined in the DSM-IV-TR have created confusion for clinicians and need to be more clearly defined.

    Note that many of the above changes are still under active consideration and are not definite. For more information regarding proposed revisions to the DSM-5, please visit their website at dsm5.org.

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    Bipolar Disorder And Co

    It is common for various mental illnesses to occur alongside other disorders. For example, about half of mental disorder patients have a substance abuse disorder.

    Overlapping bipolar spectrum conditions include ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder , and eating disorders. You can also count other anxiety disorders.

    Such comorbid conditions complicate the treatment process. They may also increase the effect of the symptoms. In worst-case scenarios, they may increase the likelihood of suicide.

    Bipolar Disorder In Teens

    Angst-filled behavior is nothing new to the average parent of a teenager. The shifts in hormones, plus the life changes that come with puberty, can make even the most well-behaved teen seem a little upset or overly emotional from time to time. However, some teenage changes in mood may be the result of a more serious condition, such as bipolar disorder.

    A bipolar disorder diagnosis is most common during the late teens and early adult years. For teenagers, the more common symptoms of a manic episode include:

    • being very happy
    • taking part in risky behaviors
    • abusing substances
    • thinking about sex more than usual
    • becoming overly sexual or sexually active
    • having trouble sleeping but not showing signs of fatigue or being tired
    • having a very short temper
    • having trouble staying focused, or being easily distracted

    For teenagers, the more common symptoms of a depressive episode include:

    • sleeping a lot or too little
    • eating too much or too little
    • feeling very sad and showing little excitability
    • withdrawing from activities and friends
    • thinking about death and suicide

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    Cyclothymic Disorder: Definition Causes Symptoms And Treatment

    Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder. Its unofficial name is bipolar 3. It has persistent or recurring changes to and from mild depression to hypomania. Normal moods do not last more than 8 weeks.

    The DSM-V notes that cyclothymic disorder does not have dramatic mood changes. The depressive states are brief and dont have the symptoms of major depression. Moreover, hypomania doesnt reach full mania levels.

    Still, the emotional highs and lows must last for at least 2 years to get the term cyclothymia. There should not be a gap of more than two months between symptoms.

    About 1 percent of Americans have cyclothymia. Its onset is around adolescence. The pattern of this disorder is unpredictable. No one is sure about its causes either. Yet, family history and genetics seem to be the likely ones.

    Diagnosing and Treating Bipolar 3

    This illness does not present the full-blown symptoms of other disorders. Despite this, the depressive episodes make the patient seek treatment.

    Patients experience chronically unstable moods and engage in risky behavior. These mood swings create problems in relationships. There could be instances of alcohol and drug abuse as well.

    Doctors struggle to diagnose this disorder because it can co-occur with other disorders. It can also present the same symptoms as another disorder. An example is the increased energy present in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder .

    Beyond Treatment: Things You Can Do

    How many different types of bipolar disorder are there ...

    Regular Exercise: Regular aerobic exercise, such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, or bicycling, helps with depression and anxiety, promotes better sleep, and is healthy for your heart and brain. There is also some evidence that anaerobic exercise such as weightlifting, yoga, and Pilates can be helpful. Check with your health care provider before you start a new exercise regimen.

    Keeping a Life Chart: Even with proper treatment, mood changes can occur. Treatment is more effective when a patient and health care provider work together and talk openly about concerns and choices. Keeping a life chart that records daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events can help patients and health care providers track and treat bipolar disorder over time. Patients can easily share data collected via smartphone apps including self-reports, self- ratings, and activity data with their health care providers and therapists.

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    Is Bipolar Disorder Hereditary

    Bipolar disorder can be passed from parent to child. Research has identified a strong genetic link in people with the disorder. If you have a relative with the disorder, your chances of also developing it are four to six times higher than people without a family history of the condition.

    However, this doesnt mean that everyone with relatives who have the disorder will develop it. In addition, not everyone with bipolar disorder has a family history of the disease.

    Symptoms Of A Mixed Episode

    A mixed episode of bipolar disorder features symptoms of both mania or hypomania and depression. Common signs of a mixed episode include depression combined with agitation, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, distractibility, and racing thoughts. This combination of high energy and low mood makes for a particularly high risk of suicide.

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    How Can I Find Support For Manage Bipolar Disorder And Manic Depression

    Struggling with mental illness is extremely difficult. Not only does it impact an individual on an emotional level, but it can also leave them with several physical complications. At SUN Behavioral Health, our masters-level clinicians provide care for these specific challenges surrounding mental illness.

    Millions of Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other conditions. It can be a lonely, confusing, and emotional experience but you are not alone. If you or someone you love is struggling, the outpatient program at SUN Behavioral Health Houston can help.

    At SUN, weve created a caring, healing environment and will be there for every step of your journey to recovery. Please call us today at 713-796-2273 to help you, your family, and your loved one.

    Four Types Of Bipolar Disorder

    Bipolar I Disorder, what is it?

    To further complicate the diagnosis, there are four types of bipolar:

    • Bipolar I: A person may experience a manic episode of extreme highs lasting around seven days or requiring hospitalization. This may or may not be followed by an extremely depressed period lasting around two weeks.
    • Bipolar II: A person may experience a less-intense version of mania called hypomania, which is not as severe as bipolar I. A depressive episode may occur before or after the hypomania. This depressive state can be severe and one condition of bipolar is not more or less serious than another.
    • Cyclothymic disorder. This type of disorder can occur when the mania or depression episode lasts longer than two years.
    • Other: This type of disorder could be rooted in substance use disorder affecting mood or other health concerns.

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    Bipolar I: What To Expect

    Many excellent clinical studies about bipolar disorder were done in the years before effective treatments were available. How many episodes of illness did patients have in the days before treatment was available? How long did their episodes last? What was the length of time between episodes?

    In a 1942 study, researchers looked at the medical records of 66 patients with manic-depressive psychosis. A few patients had only one episode of illness in the study period. About one-third had 2 to 3 episodes, about one-third had 4 to 6 episodes, and about one-third had more than 7. A few had 20 or more episodes. Unfortunately, there is no way to know whether the individual will have another 2 or 3 episodes during his lifetime or more than 20.

    Subsequent studies have shown that, if untreated, episodes of bipolar disorder often occur more frequently as patients age, and episodes seemed to be triggered more easily.

    Many patients with bipolar I disorder have nearly complete remission of their symptoms between episodes. This illness pattern often predicts that an individual will have an excellent response to treatment with lithium.

    Treatments For Bipolar Disorder

    The high and low phases of bipolar disorder are often so extreme that they interfere with everyday life.

    But there are several options for treating bipolar disorder that can make a difference.

    They aim to control the effects of an episode and help someone with bipolar disorder live life as normally as possible.

    The following treatment options are available:

    • medicine to prevent episodes of mania and depression these are known as mood stabilisers, and you take them every day on a long-term basis
    • medicine to treat the main symptoms of depression and mania when they happen
    • learning to recognise the triggers and signs of an episode of depression or mania
    • psychological treatment such as talking therapy, which can help you deal with depression, and provides advice about how to improve your relationships
    • lifestyle advice such as doing regular exercise, planning activities you enjoy that give you a sense of achievement, as well as advice on improving your diet and getting more sleep

    It’s thought using a combination of different treatment methods is the best way to control bipolar disorder.

    Help and advice for people with a long-term condition or their carers is also available from charities, support groups and associations.

    This includes self-help and learning to deal with the practical aspects of a long-term condition.

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