Bipolar Disorder

is not a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, clinically referred to as mania. Individuals who experience also commonly experience or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present. These episodes are normally separated by periods of normal mood, but in some patients, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as . Extreme can sometimes lead to such as delusions and hallucinations. The disorder has been subdivided into bipolar I, bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and based on the type and severity of experienced.

Also called bipolar affective until recently, the current name is of fairly recent origin and refers to the cycling between high and low episodes; it has replaced the older term manic-depressive illness coined by Emil Kraepelin (1856–1926) in the late nineteenth century.[1] The new term is designed to be neutral, to avoid the stigma in the non-mental health community that comes from conflating “manic” and “depression.”

Onset of symptoms generally occurs in young adulthood. Diagnosis is based on the person’s self-reported experiences, as well as observed behavior. Episodes of illness are associated with distress and disruption, and a relatively high risk of suicide.[2] Studies suggest that genetics, early environment, neurobiology, and psychological and social processes are important contributory factors. Psychiatric research is focused on the role of neurobiology, but a clear organic cause has not been found. is usually treated with medications and/or counseling. The mainstay of medication are a number of drugs termed ‘’, in particular lithium and ; these are a group of unrelated medications used to prevent relapses of further episodes. Antipsychotic medications, sometimes called neuroleptics, in particular olanzapine, are used in the treatment of and in maintenance. The benefits of using antidepressants in is unclear. Depending on the jurisdiction, in serious cases where there is risk to self or others involuntary commitment may be used; these cases generally involve severe with dangerous behaviour or with suicidal ideation. Hospital stays are less frequent and for shorter periods than they were in previous years.[citation needed]

Some studies have suggested a significant correlation between creativity and . Though studies consistently show a positive correlation between the two, the exact nature of the relationship between the disorder and creativity is still unclear.[3][4][5] One study indicated increased striving for and attainment of goals and achievements was correlated with onset of manic symptoms.[6] While the disorder affects people differently, individuals with tend to be much more outgoing and daring than individuals without . The disorder is also found in a large number of people involved in the arts. It is an ongoing study as to why many creative geniuses had .

Related posts

June 5, 2008 | Filed Under Mental Disorders 

Comments

Leave a Reply