Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities
In mania patient is physically and mentally overactive.. He is either elated (too happy) or irritable. He tends to talk too much unnecessarily and moves from one topic to next quickly.
What is Bipolar Affective Disorder?
Bipolar Affective Disorder often called Manic Depressive Illness has two phases. One Manic/hypomania and other depression. In mania patient is physically and mentally overactive.. He is either elated (too happy) or irritable. He tends to talk too much unnecessarily and moves from one topic to next quickly. He loses inhibitions and can get involved in behaviour, which would be abnormal or immoral for him normally. His sleep is reduced and he feels that he has extraordinary abilities, fame and wealth. He tends to overspend money and can become overgenerous. Some times manic patient tends to make unrealistic and over ambitious future plans. Manic episode is often followed by depression. Features of depression phase are not much different from unipolar depression. Bipolar depression is often moderate to severe with low energy and feelings of self-blame and guilt.
What is difference between Mania and Hypomania?
Hypomania is relatively milder form of Mania. However word mania is also used for manic episode of any severity.
What is medication treatment of manic episode?
Manic episodes often need to be treated in hospital. Medications used to treat mania are antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Some times they are given in combination. Antipsychotics are medications often used to treat schizophrenia. Newer antipsychotics (Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Aripiprazole) have lesser side effects. Mood stabilizers are medications used to bring the mood to normal and prevent it swinging to mania or depression. Lithium has been a well-established mood stabilizer for years. The other mood stabilizers are Sodium Valproate and Carbamazipine. These are in fact antiepileptic medications but effective in Bipolar Affective Disorder. One other antiepileptic often used in Bipolar Affective Disorder is Lamotrigine.
My brother had manic episode and doctor stopped his antidepressant?
Antidepressants are mostly stopped if patient gets in manic episode. In a patient with Bipolar Affective Disorder Antidepressant can result in manic episode and if continued can make it worse.
Is there psychological treatment of bipolar Affective Disorder?
In between episodes of mania or depression, psychological treatment can be helpful. Psychological treatment should include: psychoeducation finding out more about bipolar disorder; mood monitoring helps you to pick up when your mood is swinging; mood strategies to help you stop your mood swinging into a full-blown manic or depressive episode; help to develop general coping skills; cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for depression
I had one episode of mania. Will I have more episodes?
After just one episode, it’s difficult to predict how likely you are to have another. If someone had two episodes there is 80% chance of further episodes.
I mostly remain depressed but occasionally for a few hours or a day I get very happy and excited. My father suffers from manic depression.Do I have bipolar?
If those periods of overexcitement are clearly uncharacteristic of you and not due to side effect of antidepressants or use of any other chemicals(e.g drugs) and you have a family history of bipolar affective disorder, it may be likely that you have Bipolar 2 disorder. Depression is prominent in this condition but treatment can trigger full blown manic episode.
My doctor has diagnosed me as bipolar affective disorder 1. I had two manic episodes, the last on two years ago. For last one year I have been very low with no interest and tired all the time. I am currently on Epilim and venlafaxine full dose.I want your advice about my treatment?
At the moment it seems that you are suffering from what is called as bipolar depression. It is tricky to treat this illness. Some of medicines for example Lamotrigine, or Quetiapine can be considered. You should have a full psychiatric assessment and blood investigations and regular monitoring after you are started on Lamotrigine. It is increased slowly.
