Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder (Manic Depression/ Bipolar Affective Disorder) is a mental health problem in which the human mind goes back and forth between periods of good and bad moods or depression. The causes of the illness is yet unknown, but occurs usually between the ages of 15-25 and more often in family members. According to the A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia there are several types of bipolar disorder.People with bipolar disorder type I have had at least one manic episode and periods of major depression. In the past, bipolar disorder type I was called manic depression.People with bipolar disorder type II have never had full mania. Instead they experience periods of high energy levels and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as mania (called hypomania). These periods alternate with episodes of depression.A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves less severe mood swings. People with this form alternate between hypomania and mild depression. People with bipolar disorder type II or cyclothymia may be wrongly diagnosed as having depression. In the manic phase the illness might last up to a day or even months. It can include symptoms such as easily distracted, little need for sleep, reckless behavior and lack of self-control etc. These symptoms included in phase I are similar to the symptoms in phase II but is more intense. The symptoms of the depression phase of both are: daily low mood or sadness; difficulty concentrating, remembering; eating problems; feeling worthless, hopeless, or guilty; and thoughts of death and suicide. There are only a couple of ways to treat this illness. First the doctor may provide the patients with medicine such as Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Lithium, and Valproate. This is usually followed by an Electroconvulsive therapy, which uses an electrical current to cause a brief seizure while the patients are under anesthesia. ECT is the most effective treatment for depression that is not