Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder used to be called ‘manic depression’. As the older name suggests, someone with bipolar disorder will suffer from severe mood swings which usually last several weeks or months and are far beyond what most of us experience.

Mood swings

• Low or ‘depressive’ - feelings of intense depression and despair
• High or ‘manic’ - feelings of extreme happiness and despair
• Mixed - for example, depressed mood with the restlessness and over activity of a manic episode

About 1 in every 100 adults has bipolar disorder at some point in their life. It usually starts during or after the teenage years. It is unusual for it to start after the age of 40. Men and women are affected equally.

Types of bipolar disorder

• Bipolar I: There has been at least one high or manic episode which has lasted for longer than one week. Some people with Bipolar I will have only manic episodes, although most will also have periods of depression. Untreated, manic episodes typically last 3-6 months, while depressive episodes generally last 6-12 months.
• Bipolar II: There has been more than one episode of severe depression, but only mild manic episodes. These are called hypomania.
• Rapid cycling: More than four mood swings happen in a 12-month period. This affects around 1 in 10 people with bipolar disorder, and can happen with both types I and II.
• Cyclothymia: The mood swings are not as severe as those in full bipolar disorder, but can last longer, and can also develop into full bipolar disorder.

Research suggests that bipolar disorder is caused by:

• It runs in families, and appears to have more to do with genes than with upbringing.
• There may be a physical problem with the brain systems which control our moods, which is why bipolar disorder can often be controlled with medication.
• Episodes can sometimes be brought on by stressful experiences or physical illness.

The specific symptoms of bipolar disorder depend upon the way someone’s mood has swung.

Treatment

As with any mental health condition, the earlier you get help, the better the outlook. For Outpatients, Capio Nightingale Hospital has psychiatrists who specialise in treating bipolar. They offer advice on treatment options, help people to overcome symptoms and enable them to take control of their lives. Capio Nightingale Hospital also has Inpatient and Day Care Treatment Programmes specifically tailored for this condition.

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