Mental Health 101: Bipolar Disorder

How many times have you heard the phrase "Oh he/she is Bipolar!"?  Many times I bet.  Bipolar is often used to describe someone who is moody however Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental health disorder that can be very dehabilitating. What's the difference between someone who is moody and someone with Bipolar Disorder you ask? Well, I'll explain some.

People with Bipolar Disorder have periods of mania, depression or a combination of both (mixed episodes). 

The DSM-IV-TR (the book mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health disorders) defines mania as a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least one week and consisting of three or more of the following:

• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity.
• Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feeling rested after only 3 hours of sleep).
• More talkative than usual or feeling pressure to keep talking.
• Racing thoughts or thoughts that seem to jump from topic to topic.
• Distractibility (e.g., attention is easily drawn to unimportant details).
• Increased goal-directed activity (either socially, at school or work, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation.
• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for negative consequences (e.g., going on buying sprees, foolish business investments, promiscuous sex).

The DSM-IV-TR defines a depressive episode as a distinct period lasting at least 2 weeks of symptoms including: Insomnia or hypersomnia. As I said before, a mixed episode is a combination of both manic and depressive symptoms.

The DSM-IV-TR identifies two types of Bipolar Disorder (didn't know that huh?):

Bipolar I: Manic or mixed episodes are present.
Bipolar II:  Hypomanic (which means symptoms of mania are present but not enough to call a manic episode) and depressive episodes are present.

As you can see, someone who is bipolar clearly not just someone in a bad mood or has temperament changes.  If you or someone you know have symptoms of Bipolar Disorder seek help from your doctor or a mental health professional so they can tell you for sure  since symptoms of Bipolar Disorder are similar to symptoms of other mental health disorders. 

There are support groups out there for people with Bipolar Disorder out there...here are some links.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support_findsupportlanding
http://www.mdjunction.com/bipolar-in-the-family- this is a support site for family members of people with Bipolar Disorder.

Since you have an idea of what Bipolar Disorder is, use caution when calling someone Bipolar.

Take care,
-Kimmy

•  Depressed mood.
•  Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or
• almost all activities.
• Signiifcant (>5% body weight) weight loss or gain,
• or increase or decrease in appetite.

Psychomotor agitation or retardation.

Fatigue or loss of energy.

Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.

Diminished concentration or indecisiveness.

Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.