Bipolar disorder, (also known as manic depression) is a mental health condition. It involves cycles of extreme low and high mood.
A person with bipolar disorder may cycle between feeling euphoric and extremely energetic (‘manic’), and feeling very low (‘depression’). The cycle of manic and depressive symptoms is different for everyone. For some people, episodes can last for three to six months and occur every few years. Others may experience shorter but more frequent episodes over the course of one year. Treatment with medication may stop the symptoms, or make them shorter or less intense.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. Contributing factors may include brain chemicals, environmental factors, physical illness and stress. Research suggests that around 80 per cent of the causes are genetic. Symptoms of bipolar disorder generally begin in early adulthood. For most people, the disorder is a lifelong diagnosis. However, with appropriate treatment and support:
Types of Bipolar Disorder
a) Bipolar I Disorder
People with bipolar I disorder typically experience: one or more manic episodes (extreme highs) lasting at least one week, as well as depressive episodes, and psychotic episodes. With bipolar I disorder, episodes of mania are severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life.
b) Bipolar II Disorder
People with bipolar II disorder typically experience: both hypomanic and depressive episodes. A person with hypomania will experience similar symptoms to someone with mania, but less intensely.
Hypomania associated with bipolar II lasts only a few hours or days (rather than weeks of mania, as with bipolar I). Although bipolar II disorder has less severe symptoms than bipolar I disorder, it can be chronic (ongoing). Depressive symptoms associated with bipolar II disorder are often more frequent and longer-lasting.
c) Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is characterised by persistent and unpredictable changes in mood. The highs and lows are much less extreme than for bipolar I and II disorder, and the episodes are shorter.
d) Mixed episodes
Some people experience ‘mixed episodes’ – where they can feel some of the signs and symptoms of both depression and mania or hypomania.
Bipolar Disorder – Mania
Common symptoms of mania associated with bipolar disorder include:
The symptoms of hypomania are the same as those for mania, but less severe and of shorter duration.
Bipolar Disorder – Depression
Common symptoms of depression associated with bipolar disorder include:
Bipolar disorder – Psychosis
People with bipolar disorder who are experiencing an episode of mania may also have symptoms of psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known. Contributing factors may include:
Research suggests that around 80 per cent of the causes are genetic, and people can have a strong genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder. This means that for those people, because of the coding in their genes, certain triggers may cause symptoms of bipolar disorder to occur. Triggers may include stressors such as abuse, loss, or trauma. Sometimes bipolar disorder develops without a trigger.
One theory is that the illness might be linked to brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) serotonin and norepinephrine. These chemicals help regulate mood. It is thought that, for a person with a genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder, these chemicals may easily be thrown out of balance.
While the onset of bipolar disorder may be linked to stressful life events, it is unlikely that stress causes bipolar disorder. People who live with bipolar disorder often find that managing and reducing stress in their lives helps to reduce their chance of triggering a relapse.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder requires long-term treatment and management. Treatment options may include:
