Bipolar Disorder Causes and Treatments

1. Bipolar DisorderCauses and Treatments By: Lexus Whitaker

2. What is Bipolar Disorder? • A psychiatric diagnosis that includes mood swings. • It is a very serious mental illness that needs to be treated. • Bipolar Disorder is characterized by extreme mood changes. • Mood changes range from mania to depression. • People with Bipolar can experience normal moods.

3. What causes people to become Bipolar? • There is no single factor that causes bipolar disorder. • One theory suggests an underlying defect in brain chemistry which can worsen through environmental or lifestyle factors. • Two Scottish researchers isolated a gene that when present causes a person to be two times more likely to develop the disorder. • Other factors include: Genetics, Drugs, Environment, Alcohol, and Stressful Events.

4. Mania – feeling extremely happy A manic person may: feel very happy, have a very high opinion of him/herself, not need sleep, talk more than normal, be easily distracted, or acts impulsively. Depression – feelings sad or anxious A depressed person may: feel hopeless or pessimistic, have slow thoughts or speech, have low energy, have some difficulty with concentrating, making decisions, and have decreased interest in normal activities. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

5. Three types of Bipolar Disorder • Bipolar I – this is considered the classic form of the mental illness. It causes manic and depressed mood swings. A person with Bipolar I experience almost equal mood swings. • Bipolar II – a person with Bipolar II has mood swings, but often times is more depressed; he/she experiences less mania than a person with Bipolar I. • Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder – A person will experience at least 4 episodes of depression and mania in a 12 month period. The mood swings are the same as in Bipolar I, they just occur much more frequently.

6. Is there a relationship between Bipolar Disorder and Violence? • YES! • Scientists point out that there is a coloration between people with mental illness and increased violent behaviors. • When people with Bipolar Disorder are in a manic stage, they are more likely to engage in drug use and drinking to release negative energy. • When a person is drinking or using drugs, he/she is more likely to have violent tendencies. • Therefore, there is an indirect connection between people with Bipolar Disorder and violent behaviors.

7. Lithium – Helps reduce the frequency and severity of mania. Seroquel – Treats psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Topamax – Used as a mood stabilizer (used in people who cannot tolerate Lithium. Lanictal – Used as a mood stabilizer to help with mania and depression. Paxil – A mood stabilizer for people who suffer from more severe depression. Abilify – Used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Helps relieve delusional thoughts and hallucinations. Risperdal – Helps relieve symptoms of a sudden manic episodes. Only prescribed for short term. Depakote ER – Used as a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant. Zyprexa – A mood stabilizer that dissolves under your tongue. Geodon – A mood stabilizer for people who cannot tolerate antipsychotic medication. Medications to Treat Bipolar Disorder

8. Treatments for Bipolar Disorder • Bipolar Disorder is a lifetime mental illness, so long term care is necessary. • People with Bipolar Disorder need an effective maintenance treatment plan that includes medication and therapy for preventing/controlling severe mood swings. • Most medications will not cure the mental illness, rather just help lessen the symptoms. • If a person does not keep a daily medication routine, symptoms will reoccur and the illness many worsen.