Bipolar Disorder Symptoms & Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a kind of mental disorder that describes a class of mood disorders.  In this disorder, a person experiences states of depression (also known as mania) and mixed states (also known as hypomania). Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. If this disorder is left untreated, then it can harm a person’s mental state and further leading to psychiatric condition. Normally people get confused between bipolar disorder and the major depression. The major difference that we can find out between the two terms is that bipolar disorder involves energized mood conditions with the depressed mood conditions. The time duration and intensity of moods of a person varies from one person to another, depending on their mental illness. 

If a person faces fluctuation from one mood to another, then it is termed as “cycling” or mood swings. The mood swings can not only affect a person’s life drastically but also affects energy level, sleep pattern, concentration level, social activities and also the thinking process. It has been noticed that most of people become fully disabled, at least for some time being, after the person is being diagnosed. During this time period, the people facing bipolar disorder have a problem in functioning with their daily schedule. 

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder:

Bipolar disorder consists of depression, mania or hypomania. But only some of the people can remain in between mania and depression. In most of the cases, depression, mania and hypomania predominates the other to some extent. It has been noticed that people with bipolar disorder may try to attempt suicide and also some succeed in doing so. Due to the latest research, at least 15 times of the total population are more likely to commit suicide. 

Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder:

The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is based on the specific symptoms that the psychiatrists use to judge whether a person is suffering from bipolar disorder or not. Psychiatrist in Bhopal uses a short questionnaire to help them evaluate the risk of bipolar disorder prevailing in their lives.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder:

·       Often, drugs are used to stabilize the mood (known as mood stabilizers), some of the drug stabilizers include lithium and some anticonvulsants

·         Antipsychotic drugs

·         Certain antidepressants

·         Psychotherapy

·     Electroconvulsive therapy, this therapy is used when mood stabilizers do not relieve depression

·         Phototherapy, this therapy is used in treating seasonal bipolar disorder