The disease is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in energy, moods, and ability to work effectively. The changes range from extremely low or sad moments to elated or energized behaviors. The main cases are classified as bipolar I, bipolar II and unspecified bipolar disorders. The disease is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world. Most of the affected individuals are aged between 20 and 40 years. According to Geddes & Miklowitz (2013), research conducted on the American population shows that women are more affected as compared to men. The disease is characterized by periods of deep and prolonged depression and anxiety. There are two main distinct episodes namely mania and hypomania which are used to describe the symptoms. Mania is more severe than hypomania because patients have extreme signs such as poor decision-making, stress and racing thoughts.
The differential diagnosis of the disease is based on the patient's medical history and clinical examination (Pompili et al., 2013). Doctors examine other conditions that may have manic-like symptoms. Skillful questioning may reveal morbid signs such as recurrent thoughts, loss of energy, and impulsive sexual escapades. As part of the examination, patients may also be asked to keep a record of their moods and sleep patterns (Ferrari et al., 2016). When dealing with children, the diagnosis procedure should be comprehensive to cover other areas such as behavior problems and other mental disorders.
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Treatment is best guided by a medical doctor. Depending on the patient needs, treatment may include medication, substance abuse treatment, and hospitalization (Belkhiria et al., 2015). The drugs used include mood stabilizers and anti-depressants. Psychotherapy is also a vital part of bipolar disorder treatment. The processes focus on support from family and friends by identifying and controlling unhealthy behaviors. The primary idea is learning about the disease and what can be done to prevent relapse when the patient is at home or work. Psychiatrists should also follow up on their patients because bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition.
References
Belkhiria, A., Cherif, W., Medini, F., Dammak, R., Chennoufi, L., & Cheour, M. (2015). Relationship Between Hypothyroidism and Bipolar Disorders: a Case Report. European Psychiatry , 30 , 1137.
Ferrari, A. J., Stockings, E., Khoo, J. P., Erskine, H. E., Degenhardt, L., Vos, T., & Whiteford, H. A. (2016). The prevalence and burden of bipolar disorder: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Bipolar disorders , 18 (5), 440-450.
Geddes, J. R., & Miklowitz, D. J. (2013). Treatment of bipolar disorder. The Lancet , 381 (9878), 1672-1682.
Pompili, M., Gonda, X., Serafini, G., Innamorati, M., Sher, L., Amore, M., ... & Girardi, P. (2013). Epidemiology of suicide in bipolar disorders: a systematic review of the literature. Bipolar disorders , 15 (5), 457-490.
