Bipolar Disorder

~Written by Simone Saunders~


Approximately 2% of people living in Australia will experience Bipolar Disorder at some stage of their lives. It is most common in young adults aged 8 to 24 years old. However Bipolar Disorder can affect anyone despite age, sex, religion or ethnic origin.

Bipolar Disorder, previously known as Manic Depression, is a mood disorder characterised by exaggerated mood swings. People with Bipolar Disorder experience recurrent episodes of feeling low (depressed) and high (mania), both moods can be mild to severe.

Bipolar Disorder seems to be most closely linked to family history. About 70% of people with Bipolar Disorder will have a close relative (a parent or sibling) who suffers from either Bipolar Disorder or from depression and people that have a parent with Bipolar Disorder have a 10% chance of having the illness themselves.

As well as being a genetic disorder, environmental factors (such as change in season, having problems with employment, living arrangements, family and relationships; being the victim of verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma; other life transitions e.g. having a child, death or loss of someone close) and physical health issues (such as pregnancy and childbirth; hormonal problems (hyper and hypothyroidism); brain problems (Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease); autoimmune problems (Lupus, HIV); and Cancer) also are closely linked to Bipolar Disorder.

There are two main types of Bipolar Disorder – Bipolar Disorder 1 and Bipolar Disorder 2. Bipolar Disorder 1 is as common in men as it is in women, while Bipolar Disorder 2 is twice as common in women as in men.

Bipolar Disorder 1 is when you experience one or more manic episodes and often one or more major depressive episodes. Each depressive episode can last for several weeks or months, alternating with intense symptoms of mania that can last for just as long. Between these extremes, you might have periods where life continues normally. Your symptoms can also be affected by changes in season (e.g. winter months) or life situations that come up (eg exam stress).Bipolar Disorder 2 is when you experience episodes depression plus episodes of a mild form of mania called hypomania (persistent elevation of mod, energy and activity).

People with this type of bipolar disorder do not experience psychotic symptoms and generally have episodes of mania that last for a short time e.g. hours or at most, a few days.

However, some people with Bipolar Disorder have what are called ‘mixed episodes’ where they feel some of the signs and symptoms of both depression and mania. Moods can change very quickly for some people – feeling high, then low and high again, within a matter of days or even hours.

Bipolar Disorder has two distinct conditions to treat, mania and depression. As everyone is different the treatment and management can vary widely. Professional help is needed to maximise the likelihood of long-term success and often treatment includes a combination of medications to manage the symptoms plus psychological therapies to help in dealing with the illness. The management of Bipolar Disorder generally consists of three parts - treating the current episode of mania and depression; preventing the recurrence of mania and depression and managing the recovery.

Treatments for bipolar disorder are evolving rapidly and now tend to be very successful allowing people living with Bipolar Disorder can lead full and productive lives.

Mental Health Professionals have recently developed a questionnaire to help assess if an individual has Bipolar Disorder. The questionnaire is available on Bipolar.com at www.bipolar.com.au/questionnaire.cfm. Please note that the questionnaire is a guide only.

If you think that you or someone that you know might have Bipolar Disorder, then you should seek advice from your Medical Health Care Professional.

You can also contact Lifeline who can supply you with immediate counselling and further information on 13 11 14. Lifeline’s 13 11 14 service is staffed by trained volunteer telephone counsellors who are ready to take calls 24-hour a day, any day of the week from anywhere in Australia.


Sources:
Department of Health and Ageing www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth/illness/bipolar.htm
Reach Out http://www.reachout.com.au/
Bipolar.com http://www.bipolar.com.au/

~Featured in Carve Monthly, August 2007