Bipolar Disorder: Exploring Types, Symptoms, Risk, Diagnosis and Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition in which a person’s emotions do not remain stable. In this situation, many times a person is not able to control their behavior. In this article, we will learn what are the causes, symptoms, and treatment of bipolar disorder.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are 4 types of bipolar disorder:

Bipolar 1: This is the most severe form of bipolar disorder. Symptoms of this type of disorder include:

• Episodes of mania (mood disorder) (lasting at least a week)
• episodes of depression (lasting at least two weeks)
• Sometimes the symptoms of manic episode (mood disorder) become severe, due to which hospitalization may have to be done.
• Symptoms of mania and depression may occur together.

Bipolar 2: Although a person with this type of disorder experiences episodes of depression and mania like bipolar I, the intensity of the manic episodes is less severe. Which is called hypomanic episode.

Bipolar 3: This is called cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia). This type of disorder affects very few people but its specialty is that if an adult gets affected by it, it can trouble them for about 2 years and in children and teenagers it lasts for one year. Although its symptoms are not serious, it is not easily detected.

Bipolar 4: Some different types of bipolar disorder: People who experience unusual mood changes but whose symptoms do not match any type of bipolar disorder are called unspecified bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms that occur during a manic episode (mood disorder) include:

• increase in energy
• mood swings
• increased physical and mental activity
• to speak at a rapid pace
• make a wrong decision
• lack of sleep
• reckless driving
• overestimating feelings

Symptoms that can occur during depressive episodes include:

• decreased energy and fatigue
• irritability or sadness
• feelings of anxiety and anger
• lack of concentration
• excessive sleepiness or difficulty sleeping
• excessive or no appetite
• difficulty concentrating
• Arousal of useless emotions
• feeling suicidal
• Loss of interest in activities that previously brought you great pleasure

Bipolar disorder causes

Researchers have not yet identified any specific factors that contribute to the development of this disorder.

Risk factors of Bipolar disorder

Factors that contribute to the development of this type of disorder include:

Family history: The risk of developing it is higher in individuals whose family members (parents or siblings) have had the condition. Studies have found that approximately 80-90% of patients suffering from this disorder are those who have inherited depression or bipolar disorder.

Environmental factors: Inability to cope with traumatic or stressful events can trigger this disorder such as:

• bad relationship
• Divorce
• death in the family
• serious illness
• money problems

Brain structure and function: Variations in brain size or imbalances in certain brain chemicals can also help trigger bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder prevention

There are no prescribed measures to prevent bipolar disorder. However, the following measures can help in recognizing the early signs and preventing it:

• If any member of the family is affected by bipolar disorder, then he can be made aware by telling him about its initial symptoms.
• getting enough sleep
• Learning how to deal with stress
• Avoiding excessive intake of drugs and caffeine, etc.

Diagnosis of Bipolar disorder

To understand the symptoms of it, the doctor first talks to the patient. Apart from this, the doctor also conducts a complete physical test, blood test or body scan to detect other diseases in the patient’s body (for example, the condition of the thyroid gland) through which the symptoms can be detected. The doctor also evaluates the medical history, family history and list of other ongoing medications. Some doctors may also talk to family members or friends of the patient to better understand the symptoms.

If the doctor suspects bipolar disorder, the person may be advised to seek help from a mental health care professional. Such professionals usually understand the pattern and intensity of symptoms closely to identify the type of bipolar disorder. Due to similarities in symptoms, individuals with this disorder are sometimes misdiagnosed as having borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia.

Bipolar disorder treatment

Although there is no possible cure for this disorder yet, you can reduce its symptoms with the help of some treatments:

• Medications: Your doctor may recommend the following medications to control symptoms.
• Anti-psychotics (to control symptoms)
• Mood stabilizer (to reduce symptoms)
• Anti-depressant (it is rarely used due to its side effects)
• Anti-anxiety medicine (reduces the risk of manic episodes)

However, these medicines also have some side effects. If you take these medicines you may be at risk of:

• Risk of bipolar depression
• gaining weight
• These medicines take several months to show effect
• Psychotherapy: This is a therapy in which the thoughts, behavior and emotions that contribute to the disorder are identified and changed through proper guidance, support and education. This treatment also includes many other treatments which include
• psychoeducation (This is a therapy that provides more information about bipolar disorder.)
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (This is a therapy in which a person’s way of thinking and behavior is changed so that the problem can be solved.)
• Family Focused Therapy (In this therapy the entire family works together to heal the affected person)
• Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy
• ElectroConvulsive Therapy: In this therapy, first general anesthesia is given to the person and then electric current is given to different parts of his brain. Due to this treatment your depression and mania can be treated. It is given when other treatments fail and is also effective for people who are having suicidal thoughts.
• Hospitalization: This is done when a person’s depression lasts for a long time and they start having suicidal thoughts.

If you think that someone you know is suffering from bipolar disorder, then you should suggest him to seek medical help immediately because if it is not treated, it takes a more serious form.

Lifestyle/ Management

• Exercise daily: Doing aerobic exercise helps you sleep better and is also beneficial in your depression, so do exercise for some time every day.
• Take a healthy diet: To prevent weight gain, you will have to follow a healthy diet along with exercise.
• Keep a journal: To note down your sleep patterns and mood etc., you should keep a journal and record all these things in it.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs: If you consume excess alcohol and drugs, it affects your physical health as well as your mental health, so stop consuming them.

Complications of Bipolar disorder

If you do not treat this disorder, you may face many problems, which include:

• gaining weight
• Diabetes
• risk of heart diseases
• anxiety
• having suicidal thoughts

If you are a patient of bipolar disorder, you may already have some problems like stress disorder and these problems can make your treatment even more difficult.

Alternative Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: During this procedure, magnetic waves are delivered to different parts of your brain.
• Vagus nerve stimulation: In this, a pacemaker-like device is implanted near your collar bone. These devices send electrical signals to your brain.