Bipolar disorder – warning signs and
treatments.
By Meir
Stolear, BA (Hons.), MSc (London) - 2012
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people’s moods
swing between short periods of high sprits or restlessness and an extremely low
mood or depression. The disorder affects men and women equally and is usually
first diagnosed at ages 15 – 25. The exact cause of the disorder is unknown but
it is assumed to be either genetically transmitted or learned behaviour, or
possibly a combination of both.
There are three different known types of bipolar disorder, which are:
1 People who
have had at least one hyper episode and prolonged periods of severe depression.
2 People who
are experiencing periods of high energy levels and impulsiveness and are engaged
in risky or unusual behaviour. These high-energy periods alternate with periods
of deep depression.
3 People who are experiencing less extreme mood
swings and are often, wrongly, diagnosed with depression disorder rather than bipolar
disorder.
For most
people with bipolar there does not seem to be a clear or known trigger that
brings on manic or depressive episodes. However, the following events seem to
act as a trigger of a manic episode for some or many bipolar sufferers:
• Life changes such as childbirth, getting promotion
at work, winning some money, etc.
• Medications such as antidepressants or steroids.
• Periods of sleepless nights.
• Moderate to heavy use of illegal drugs.
Some of the symptoms to look for when one get too high:
•
Poor ability
to concentrate.
•
Inability to
sleep.
•
Making poor decisions,
reckless behaviour, having sex with many partners.
•
Impulsive
behaviour and quick loss of temper.
•
Hyperactivity,
high energy and racing thoughts.
•
Talking a
lot and false beliefs about oneself or one’s abilities.
•
Easily
getting upset agitated or irritated.
Some of the symptoms to look for when getting depressed:
• Loss of concentration, memory and ability to make
decisions.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss or binging on food
and weight gain.
• Fatigue and very low energy.
• Thinking of oneself as worthless, hopeless, or a loser.
• No pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.
• Recurrent thoughts about death and/or suicide
• Social isolation and self-imposed loneliness.
Treatments and treatment
goals:
Medical treatments:
Medical doctors such as psychiatrists commonly prescribe mood stabilizer
drugs, such as Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Litmus and Valproate. Some doctors
may also use anti-anxiety and/or antidepressant drugs.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may also be used if the patient does not
respond to medication. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is often used after
ECT treatment.
Patients who are in the middle of manic or depressive episodes and
cannot deal with their lives independently may need to stay in a hospital until
their mood is stable and their behaviour is under their own control.
CBT/REBT treatment:
Most treatments for bipolar disorder involve either
medical or psychological interventions. However, evidence has shown that a combination
of the two has achieved superior results. Evidence has also shown that
treatment for bipolar based on medical intervention and Cognitive Behaviour
Therapies (CBT) intervention is the most effective and efficient form of
treatment known at present (http://www.babcp.com/Default.aspx). Whereas the
medication (discussed above) starts stabilizing the patient’s moods and
behaviour, CBT on the other hand teaches patients a long-term strategy for
managing their disorders effectively and efficiently. CBT and Rational Emotive
Behavior Therapy (REBT is a primary CBT model of treatment) specifically teach
patients how to shift their attention from their irrational belief system to a
rational one. Also, CBT and REBT (http://www.arebt.org/) motivate patients to adopt
healthy behaviour, identify and achieve personal goals, create new meanings in
their lives and teach them unconditional self-acceptance and unconditional
emotional and behavioural responsibility. Moreover, these treatments help to
develop new life strategies and bipolar management skills, so as to prevent
lapses and relapses. The main aim of such intervention is to help the patient
develop a healthy balance between self-reliance and compliance with the medical
intervention, which the patients may have to stay on for much of their lives.
Websites links to visit:
Association for Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
(AREBT): http://www.arebt.org/
British Association for Behavioural Cognitive Psychotherapies
(BABCP): http://www.babcp.com/Default.aspx
International Bipolar Foundation: http://www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org/